Chapter Four
Horde and Alliance
*High Priestess Tyrande Whisperwind*
If I could accurately describe what it was that I was feeling at this exact moment, I would have to say it was something like anticipating tenseness. In fact I was so tense that I was sure it showed on my face as I stood here in a group amongst both friend and enemy.
It had been a week.
A strange portal had been erected by the demons holding out in the ashenvale forest near the memorial of Grommash Hellscream. It was only by chance that anyone had seen them dragging captured worgen through, muttering in anticipation to killing a whole human nation…
And when a trickle of untainted spiritual energy leaked through the portal, sending miles of forest into renewed activity and…life, both the Horde and the alliance descended upon this territory, determined to secure this portal for either faction.
It had been a week since my comrades and I had discovered this world, this beautiful world utterly glowing with spiritual energy, but slowly being tainted by the burning legion. It had been a week since I and the rest of the alliance had chosen a single champion, a Draenei woman by the name Nash'ala to go to this world in order to gain insight. She had returned, speaking almost reverently about powerful spirits locked in a draining stalemate with the burning legion, and so we sent her back with an offer for assistance and an alliance.
Unfortunately, the damn Horde had similar plans and had also sent a champion through to meet with the natives and of course since Nash'ala found one leader and that Orc found another, they both returned with news from all, that they wanted to meet us all and discuss any future plans.
And because we wanted to make a good impression, and each faction was far more focused on gaining powerful new allies and access to this spiritually enriched world, we agreed to a temporary ceasefire and gathered in the middle of what looked to be a large abandoned city and awaited their arrival.
The city was massive, so massive in fact that it stole my breath away as I looked up, taking in the sheer size of some of the buildings. The people of this world must have been numerous beyond anything I could fathom in the past. I wondered if the burning legion itself was responsible for their obvious decline.
I eyed my allies and my enemies as we stood here. No one was saying anything with their voices but I could see the numerous emotions dancing around in their eyes. I myself felt my gaze drawn to two people with a sneer threatening to twist my face. Garrosh Hellscream's entire demeanor was one of distain and hatred, his golden eyes looked around greedily until they found a member of the alliance. I could see the urge to attack in his gaze. Tch let him try.
Then I found the regent lord of my people's cousin's gaze. "Tainted magic eaters," I thought. I could already see the hungry gaze in his eyes as well. He seemed to notice me and turned, smirking with flashing green eyes as he caught my eye. I did sneer that time.
We waited for well over two hours, more than a couple of us getting pretty tired of waiting, and it was only when Garrosh of course started growling that we finally hear a pair coming…
"Ow! Dammit Tatsuki what the fuck!? You're supposed to be a werewolf why the hell are you scratching like a cat!?"
"Shaddap ya idiot! If you'd use that pea sized brain of your for once I wouldn't feel the need to claw your ass from here to kingdom come!"
"If my face scars I'm biting off your arm!"
"Hah! Try it! As if you can!"
They all watched as two people stepped into the clearing, a very human looking woman at first glance with wild black hair and an angry scowl on her face as she examined slightly bloody claws. She was dressed in a combination of cloth and metal. The high tinkerer gasped at her armor. It was a technological marvel, as was the large canon-like gun strapped to her back. She was barefoot and her lower legs were equally bare of anything. Her outer thighs on the other hand were protected by grey plate metal that had glowing lines of blue energy flowing through them almost like veins and her forearms and wrists were covered in bracers that looked a couple sizes too big for her. It was actually a shock that they even stayed on her limbs as she walked. She also wore a beautifully designed white loincloth that depicted a golden crescent moon and she had on a pair of tight black spandex short shorts to cover up her modesty. Her midriff was bare and her chest, covered by a white half shirt and her shoulders sported pauldrons that emitted blue light. Her fingers and toes were clawed and her eyes a golden yellow, and atop her head and at the base of her spine were wolf-like ears and a tail. She was a feral beauty none could mistake for anything other than what she was.
The man next to her was similarly dressed, crying dramatic tears as he tenderly prodded at the slash marks on his face. He was a well-built individual with smoother brown hair and was bare from the waist up.
"Stop crying Keigo! Act like the man you're supposed to be!" She bashed him in the head quite harshly as the two approached.
Then froze mid stride as her golden eyes landed on the group.
"Oh crap!" she exclaimed. "Uhh. Hi."
Several seconds of awkward silence followed.
*King Genn Greymane*
Sweet merciful goddess of the moon.
The second she approached, my inner wolf cried out in such a way that it almost buckled me! And indeed even the human side of me was affected!
This creature…this so obviously alpha female before me…
Never had I seen a more beautiful creature! It was all I could do not to stare. Power radiated off of this woman, a primal energy more potent than any worgen from Azeroth had ever generated washed over my senses, tempting me to run to her in an attempt to gain her attention.
I just stood there, gaping like an idiot as the awkwardness faded and died, only for wariness to take its place a second later as that brute, Garrosh stomped up to the two. I felt the overwhelming urge to charge at and rip that fool's throat out for even daring to approach in such a way, not that I'd need much motivation to do so anyway, but I stopped, just barely holding off on drawing my sword. No one seemed to notice my sudden tension anyway, so focused they all were on the…confrontation brewing before them.
"Worgen," growled Garrosh, causing the woman and her second's demeanor to change in an instant. Twin pairs of golden eyes narrowed at the orc's tone. I could feel their energy begin to churn beneath the surface of their skin. I'm sure several others could as well, if the startled tensing of their bodies was any indication.
Then the boy snorted. "Sorry bro. We're werewolves. No idea what a worgen is." He shot a hand out. "But it's nice to meecha! Name's Keigo. The violent she beast next to me is Tatsuki And I-OOF!"
I couldn't resist raising an eyebrow. How…different…
Tatsuki's wariness was forgotten in favor of indignation as she slammed her elbow into her second's solar plexus. As Keigo collapsed comically, gasping for air, Tatsuki exhaled to calm herself before looking back into Garrosh's eyes. There was hostility there. One she didn't recognize, but was able to piece together the fact that it had to do with what she was. But then Garrosh surprised them all by relaxing a bit. "You are different." He cast a sidelong glance Genn's way, sneering as he gestured towards him. "Not at all like this fool or his kind. You are stronger."
Tatsuki chuckled. "Well you're certainly flattering aren't you?" she relaxed utterly while the rest of the group blanched. Flattering? Garrosh? Ludacris.
Tatsuki grinned. "But I suppose it's true enough." She could feel the energy of that kingly looking fellow towards the back of the group. He was definitely like she was but on a weaker scale, un-enhanced by the Earth's potent environment. She booted Keigo again as he was getting up, making him flop on his back with a growl. "And like this retard said, my name is Tatsuki Arisawa, alpha of the werewolf clans. What's your name?"
"Garrosh Hellscream," he rumbled. "Warchief of the Horde."
"Oho! Really?" She looked him up and down. "I can definitely see it. You look very strong. Is that common for your people? To be as…big as you are?"
"Hey forget this guy!" exclaimed Keigo, shooting to his feet and successfully dodging Tatsuki's foot again. "Take a look at those two eh?" He pointed to the two women in the group, a pair of elves, one with glowing red eyes and grey skin and the other with purple skin and silver eyes.
"I wouldn't mind getting to know the-OW!"
Tatsuki seemingly teleported to Keigo's side and slammed her fist into his nose with the force of a moving truck, sending him slamming into the side of an abandoned building. "FUCKIN BAKA!"
Several people gaped while a couple of other chuckled. The elf with the grey skin narrowed her eyes.
"You should better control your servant," she hissed out. Tatsuki turned to her, a replay on her lips, but was interrupted by a wave of power as a black portal suddenly opened up above them. Everyone looked up in time to see a blue haired man emerge from the portal and descend down at a casual pace. Eyes got wide all around as he approached. He too looked very human, save for the sizeable hole in his abdomen and the jawbone structure attached to his face.
"Yo," he said as way of greeting, his large feral grin splitting his face. "Looks like I'm a bit late eh?" His bright blue/green eyes drifted over the entire azerothian group and gleamed in interest. "Heh, what a diverse lookin group we got here, makes this world of yours more interestin than originally imagined.
He was shorter than the average azerothian human but not by a lot. And he was dressed rather plainly in their eyes. A white jacket/vest hung open on his shoulders, exposing his powerful body and the jagged looking scar across his chest, as well at the perfectly round hole, making several shudder at the implications of what they were seeing. His hair was wild and light blue and his legs were covered in baggy white pants as well that none of them recognized. A thin curved sword was strapped to his hip and his hands were tucked into his pockets.
"The name's Grimmjow, Hollow King."
"Eh? Where's Apache?" asked Tatsuki, turning from Garrosh to greet the Hollow king as he touched down. He chuckled. "Like I would bring her to something like this. Have you seen her at our gatherings?"
Tatsuki laughed. "I know what you mean. I shoulda left this mutt at home as well."
"Up yours Tatsuki!" yelled Keigo as he walked up. "Like I woulda stayed behind."
Suddenly the elf woman with grey skin stepped boldly up to Grimmjow, her red eyes were narrowed as she examined him. "You're an Undead," she said bluntly, no tact at all, halting all conversation. In the back, a couple of the group cringed, anticipating some kind of fall out.
Grimmjow raised an eyebrow. "Undead? Like a zombie or a vampire or something? Heh as if."
"Do not lie," she growled. "How do you explain that hole in your stomach then? No living creature could survive something like that."
"Sylvanas," began Garrosh harshly, but Grimmjow waved him off.
"Nah it's alright I got this."
Everything seemed to freeze. A kind of negative anticipation began to build up as Grimmjow stared into the woman's eyes. Assessing her…Gouging her demeanor…
Then, to her incredulous shock, he just casually slung an arm over her shoulders, making everyone's eyes widen, even as he laughed a bit. "Perhaps if this all pans out I'll tell you the story of Hollow-kind someday." He leapt away as she tried to strike at him, laughing like a mad man as Tatsuki sighed in exasperation.
"Hey what the hell is this!? Why does it feel like I'd get stabbed in the damn kidney if I tried that!? It's total bs man!" yelled Keigo suddenly, making Tatsuki growl.
"Tch, it's because you're simply undesirable to women Keigo-San, your childish demeanor scares them away."
In a flash of blue light, another individual made himself known. Tall, slender and radiating with energy, the man approached the group, adjusting rectangular glasses over perpetually glowing eyes as he moved.
The first thing that came to mind of many of the visitors upon describing him was the word white. He was dressed in a pure white business looking suit, with a small cape that covered his shoulders and chest, with long black hair done up in a ponytail that hung to his mid back and had a goatee beard. The only other instance of color was the light blue five pointed cross stitched on his back.
He was sophistication personified, with a dignity that many could only hope to achieve in their life. He looked like some kind of aristocratic priest.
"Hello," he greeted politely. "I apologize for my tardiness. My name is Uryu Ishida, President of the Quincy. Unfortunately, my primary advisor could not join us today. He has other matters to attend to. I hope you understand."
"Hah!" exclaimed Grimmjow. "I dare you to call your pops your advisor to his face, brat! Hahahaha!"
Uryu's calm demeanor cracked just a bit as his eyebrow twitched. "I see you're just as pleasant to be around as always, Grimmjow."
"And you're just as stuffy as always. You're not fooling anyone with that act Quincy boy. Give it up!"
His mask shattered instantly, unable to hold in the desire to get away from the Hollow king.
"I'll give you an arrow, how about that?"
"Hey!" yelled Tatsuki. "Show some decorum in front of our guests! You idiots!"
"This comin from the she-beast who introduced herself by clawing her loyal helper's face!? Get over yourself Tatsuki!" yelled Keigo.
Tatsuki punched him in the face.
"Yeah, beat me some more. That's Reeeally helping your image!"
"SHUT UP!"
"Oho the vigor of the youthful! Even after all these years, you pups still haven't changed!"
Like a miniature comet, a midde-aged looking man with a five o clock shadow and upwards facing spiky black hair slammed into the ground, striking a dramatic pose, huge goofy grin on his face as he pointed at the group from Azeroth. "And then we have these colorful individuals! Good day to you all! The name's Isshin Kurosaki, Captain Commander of the Shinigami."
A second later a deceptively dainty hand grabbed his face and shoved him roughly to the side, making him stumble aside with an indignant squawk as a well-endowed one-armed woman dressed in a revealing red top landed gently on the ground where Isshin was just standing, the image of a paper and wood gate closing over a white portal and vanishing above them as she scowled. "Damned idiot, show some professionalism," she muttered. "Sorry about him. The name's Kukaku Shiba. I'm the vice caption of the Shinigami." Isshin and Kukaku, like the rest of them appeared completely human. But many of them could feel their otherworldly, almost primordial power as it swirled around them. Isshin grinned. He was dressed in black with a metal clap on his right shoulder holding what looked like a white cape, folded up and hanging down like an ornamental piece. He exuded massive power. They could all feel it churning just below the surface of his skin. His second in command was similar. She was weaker than Isshin...but still so very strong. It was like these two wanted them to feel their power, to know what kind of world they's found themselves walking into…
*Warchief Garrosh Hellscream*
As I watched them appear, one after another, I quickly became aware of two things.
First was that these people were the biggest group of uncouth, unprofessional fools I'd ever had the displeasure of laying my eyes upon. It was almost laughable that they could be leaders of anything, but they were and we all could sense their power and we could see the experience in their eyes. There was no denying the proof of their status.
The second fact that I became aware of was that, despite their obvious differences, these people were extremely close. I could tell right away that the relationship between them all was far too deep to be understood within a mere day, and that If I could sway even one of them to the cause of the Horde, then they would all soon follow. They were not like those panderen fools, who sought to understand both sides and therefore split amongst their own people. If I could sway one of them before those fools in the alliance could, the horde would gain six very powerful races and access to a whole new world full of fresh resources. I examined the four leaders that had appeared so far, dismissing the subordinates they brought for the moment and committed to memory their level of power.
That worgen girl…Tatsuki was brimming with power. It was feral and controlled, but unrefined. With proper training she could be so much more. I could feel the spiritual power surging beneath her skin. She might even be able to learn shamanism or become a druid. I grinned savagely at the thought.
The king, Grimmjow was even stronger. His entire demeanor was that of an apex predator. The way he moved was like an animal, ready at all time to rend flesh from bone. His intimidating nature couldn't be handled well by the alliance, and nor could his obvious status as some kind of undead. The Alliance wouldn't accept him or his kind.
That White clad individual named Uryu looked completely human. But there was something about him that just screamed that he was anything but that. His energy felt like a slightly corrupted version of what a paladin would wield. But his was stronger, very much so, and his eyes. No human had eyes like that.
And finally there was the most recent arrival. I saw through his idiotic act in an instant. This man stood before us all, the least harmful looking but the most obviously powerful. His energy, unlike the others was not tucked behind a tight net of control and hiding. He intentionally left his unshackled, dwarfing everyone here so far. He was like a primal spirit ready for anything. He knew what he was doing by showing us his power. I could see it in his eyes, years and years of experience shown in those eyes, similar to an elf.
So… a long lived race his kind was. I couldn't help the grin that tugged at the corners of my lips as I thought of what was still to come. Yes, the horde simply must gain these people as allies, perhaps I could sow some kind of distrust for those alliance fools amongst them.
I would wait for the final two to arrive first…
As the atmosphere began to return to a more normal setting, allowing the group from Azeroth a bit of time to get their scruples together, they took the time to chat amongst themselves, temporarily forgetting certain hostilities.
Vol'jin approached Baine and Tyrande, his eyes wide and inquisitive as he spoke. "You can feel dem too right?" he asked. "Dey are like primal spirits bound in mortal forms. Do not let dare attitudes fool yah, dey be powerful beyond what dey show."
"Yes," began Genn as he approached. "Not one of them, even that idiotic boy smelled weak to me. The wolf yearns to challenge them, but it also is too cautious of doing so."
"They certainly are unique," muttered Tyrande. "This whole world contradicts itself. It is an oxymoron."
"Caught between living in dead," muttered Sylvanas, surprising everyone. "I cannot make sense of it." She was obviously annoyed.
Another wave of energy made itself known, cutting all other conversation short as a large darker skinned man dressed in a tight muscle-shirt jeans approached. He walked sedately, a calm, almost emotionless look upon his face as he approached. At his side was a woman of similar skin color, with chin length hair.
These two were the most inhuman looking so far to show up before them.
Looking like a fusion of actual specters and a human body, they arrived, illuminating the area with their glowing eyes, hair and limbs.
"Hmm," he said, his deep voice rumbling in his chest as his otherworldly looking gaze swept over everyone there, before he turned his gaze to his partner. "I told you we were running late, Jackie."
The woman glared. "Tch, was your own fault," she muttered. "Besides we aren't late. I don't see the Togabito anywhere."
The man seemed to agree. But it still didn't stop him from addressing the group. "Apologies for the wait," he began. "My name is Yastora Sado, though everyone just calls me Chad. I am the commander and chief of the fullbringer nation. It's a pleasure to meet you."
He was handsome. Even Sylvanas could admit that, and very large. He stood as tall as Garrosh, with chiseled features and sharp glowing eyes. His skin was a milky brown, a half shade darker than Garrosh with transparent flowing energy that made up his hair. His arms were covered in black bandage looking wrappings and the Azeroth group would have questioned such a feature, if it wasn't for his companion. The woman was beautiful in a rough sort of way, dressed in black leather white pants and large work boots, covered in dried mud. But her right arm was transparent and seemingly made of condensed raishi. And they could only tell that because unlike Chad, her arm was rather carelessly wrapped in bandages, loosely covering the hand shaped energy, looking like an ethereal trader. It was fascinating watching the whisps of energy escaping the bandages as she moved.
She was as dark as her leader, with straight shimmering black hair and an intense expression upon her face.
"Sup," she began. "Names Jackie Tristan." She crossed her arms and gave everyone a smirk.
"Well hello to you too," said keigo, smoothly slipping up to the woman's side, grinning slyly. Jackie gave him a very brief look out of the corner of her eye…then snorted and turned her nose up at him.
"Gah! Why are all women so cruel!?"
"God dammit Keigo!" yelled Tatsuki.
And then everything came to an abrupt stop as a wave of power so potent it nearly sent everyone not from earth crashing to their knees washed over the area.
*High King of the Alliance, Varian Wrynn*
Up until that moment, I had been content to hang in the back with Gelbin and Velen and quietly observe as the leaders of the alliance and the Horde interacted with these strangers.
Until that moment I had been filled with a sense of awe at the beings that continued to show up to introduce themselves to us and then proceed to act in such a way that I would burn with jealousy that the Alliance didn't have such close bonds.
Up until the moment…she arrived I was not worried about the people here. They were powerful yes. And I salivated at the thought of having such powerful beings aiding the alliance and Azeroth…
But all of that was washed away in a sudden adrenalin fueled terror that gripped me as the final leader made herself known.
It was unlike anything I'd ever felt before in my life. And that was saying something, considering some of the people already here. But this was on a completely different level.
It was utterly monstrous.
A circular pool of boiling blood suddenly sprang to life in the middle of us all, forcing everyone to jump back as dozens of rust red and golden chains suddenly shot out of the pool and started waving around like tentacles. We all watched, frozen as a slender woman with brown hair and half lidded golden eyes rose up out of the portal like a specter straight from hell itself. She was smiling softly, almost warmly, but I could see something else behind that smile as well.
And her appearance was something else as well. She wore golden skull themed armor that covered her right arm, shoulder and her body from her breasts up to her neck, leaving the rest of her body and left arm bare to the world and her legs were covered by ash grey pants similar to the hollow king of the Shinigami captain commander. Her right hip was decorated with a golden covering that tapered off into point like spikes hanging at her side and the chains that has been whipping around coiled themselves around her left arm, twice loosely over her shoulders, once around her waist and hanging wrapped loosely and the rest hanging down her back, imbedded into her shoulder blades.
The sheer malevolence radiating off of this woman dwarfed any demon of the burning legion I had encountered so far.
"W-what…what is this!?" I found myself almost yelling as she stepped out of the portal and allowed it to disappear.
Then I heard Voljin mutter a single word…
"Demigod."
The entire group froze at that proclamation. A demigod? There was a demigod standing before them?!
Then, to everyone's surprise, she giggled.
"Oh you flatter me," she began, and varian was shocked to hear such a soft melodious voice come from such a…being.
"I've never been called a demigod before. I wonder what the Transcendents would say to that?" she held her finger to her chin, looking up in thought. There was an amused snort. Tatsuki was smirking.
"Thinking of 'Aizen-kun' again?"
The togabito woman blushed and scowled. "How many times do I have to tell you I'm not interested in that man?"
"Heh as many times as it takes until you stop living in denial."
"As if I'd ever let my precious daughter fall into the bed of that man of all people and have a ton of his babies!" yelled Isshin suddenly. Like hell he'd allow that. Aizen? friggin hell no.
Yuzu glared. "Now I know why Ichi-nii slaps you around dad," she said. The group descended into playful bickering.
The group from Azeroth just stood, silent as they recovered from Yuzu's sudden arrival, and shocked as they watched this goddess fall easily into bantering with the people around her like it was a common and natural thing. Wait, did she just say father?
Before anyone could ask that question though the whole group of earthlings suddenly lost all of their goofy demeanors and focused their undivided attention on the Azerothians. Their eyes all reflected a seriousness that many of them had thought impossible. Even Keigo, the most immature of the group was a picture of discipline and seriousness.
For ten whole seconds there was a sort of standoff between the two groups, until Tyrande herself stepped forward. Her glowing eyes trailed over all of them with several emotions running across her face, especially when she cast her gaze upon Grimmjow and Yuzu.
"I would never have imagined," she began looking humbled as she stared at them all. "That such a powerful world could exist, or that six whole races as powerful and so…different in nature could live so harmoniously…" she trailed off while trying not to look at Grimmjow or Yuzu. "I am awed and honored to witness such a thing."
"Tch," began Grimmjow with a grin. "It aint all that special," he said.
"Yeah," began Tatsuki while crossing her arms. "But when you think of the circumstances though, it makes sense. It was either pull our heads outta our asses or die."
Tyrande nodded in understanding. "Yes, the legion is no laughing manner. Differences must be set aside when something like an invasion of demons happens."
"That and the world itself almost ending everyone and everything's existence," muttered Jakie, causing several set of wide eyes to focus on her.
"What?" she asked somewhat defensively.
Isshin chuckled stepping to the front of the group. "Enough about all that!" he said with a goofy smile. "They didn't come here to hear our backstory! I believe they want something, right? An alliance."
Garrosh stepped forward, almost shouldering Tyrande as he stepped up. "Yes," he began. "But choose your allies wisely spirit. The Horde would provide you all you need."
"Ah yes," began the Shinigami Captain commander. "There are two factions here vying for our attention." He chuckled. "This does pose a bit of a dilemma doesn't it?" He turned to his companions. "What do you all think?"
"Tch, I don't care," began Grimmjow. "Do what you want."
Uryu sighed. "How lackluster. I suppose that is to be expected from you though." Grimmjow flipped him off.
Chad eyed the horde and the alliance. "How bad is your conflict with one another?" he asked.
He was answered by the individual who called Yuzu a demigod. He chuckled and said, "To tell da truth mon it be a miracle we here haven't started killin one another yet. Da Horde and da alliance are in an all out war." He then cast a look to Garrosh without the orc knowing. "There be tension amongst allies as well," he muttered.
"Ooh that's not good," said Tatsuki. "How the hell are we supposed to make any alliances with you guys if you're busy fighting each other? For that matter why the hell are you guys fighting when you so obviously have more important shit to be worrying about?"
"Do not presume to lecture us Girl," Hissed sylvanas with a glare. "You do not know of our struggles or what we have been through, or of the feuds that exist as well."
"And I really don't care," fired back the werewolf alpha in question as she stared into the banshee queen's eyes without an ounce of fear. "Your past struggles have no concern to me. What does concern me is the trouble you'll all bring if we decide to open up relations with your world."
Garrosh growled. "Then choose a faction and oust the other. Simple."
"That's not possible." It was Kukaku who spoke. "We've met all of you already and we have no desire or intention to create more enemies. Way I see it you're gonna have to learn to get along as long as you're on earth or we will simply prevent anyone from Azeroth from coming here again."
Garrosh growled and drew himself up in a threatening manner, Completely oblivious to the tensing of Keigo and Jackie. "You risk making an enemy of the Horde already," he threatened. "I would think wisely your next choice of words."
Before anyone could respond, notably Tatsuki who looked ready to hit someone, a tall whitehaired figure stepped forward.
Up until then he hadn't said a word. He was so quiet they'd forgotten he was there. But now there was no missing him. He had this peculiar look upon his face. It was a look that sent Tyrande on edge.
"I'll agree," he said, stunning everyone there.
"What!?"
He smirked at his shocked comrades and his incredulous enemies and stared at Isshin. "My people and I will agree," he said again. "We will provide supplies, soldiers, new skills… knowledge, whatever you may need. You will have the full suppose of the Sin'dorei people," he paused and pointed up, at the river of flowing energy in the sky. "And in return all I ask is for us to be allowed to harness that."
A stunned silence filled the air for well over a minute. Even the group from Earth couldn't believe what they'd just heard!
Tyrande couldn't help herself. The nerve of that blood elf fool!
"You mustn't!" she yelled while looking at the earthlings. She pointed a harsh finger at the man. "The Sin'dorei would drain that river dry trying to sate their addiction! They're leeches who-"
"Relax babe, sheesh," It was Grimmjow who spoke, suddenly appearing with his hand covering the night elf's mouth, laughing at her shocked look as he leapt away from her, laughing.
"W-what!?"
Isshin chuckled before turning to the man. "First, my good sir we never did get your name." The man looked startled slightly before he gave a bow. "My apologies yes you are right. I am the regent lord of Quel'thalas, Lor'themar theron at your service."
Isshin smiled. "Okay then Lor'Themar. I'm gonna hit ya with a brief history lesson so that you don't ask something ridiculous again." He almost laughed at the blood elf's startled wide eyed look before he continued. "In fact I think you all should pay attention."
There was a pause as Isshin took a breath.
"That river of energy in the sky…It's called the cycle of rebirth. It is the very lifeblood of our world. It is its soul, its will given form. It is the source of everything here, the source of our powers and the source of our very lives. One could even say that we are all merely extensions of that river. It is our lifeline. The burning legion is here because of that very river. Years ago they almost succeeded in tapping directly into it, causing it to surge outwards in all directions, obliterating whole landscapes, wiping out countless lives, purging demon and earthling alike while doing so and cracking the planet open while literally blending the realms of living and dead together."
He paused as several people gasped at the implications of such a catastrophe.
"To tap into that river and to drain it away means to kill this entire world."
The entirety of the group pierced the Azerothians with a severe look. "That river is not to be touched by anyone."
"Hah!" excplaimed Garrosh boldly. "And you would tell us such a blatant weakness? Are you really so stupid?"
That did it. Spiritual pressure suddenly assaulted everyone there and Keigo was suddenly inside the orc's guard, a sleek looking gun glowing with energy pointed under his chin and his features growing more feral by the second. No one even saw him move.
"Are you so stupid…" he began his voice barely discernable from a bestial growl. "As to try and capitalize on this weakness?" he pressed the gun harder to the stunned orc's chin. "Because if you are…"
"Then you don't have much of a future." Jackie was standing on the very air it seemed, her legs completely encased in black grieves that seemed to materialize on her from where her boots had been. She was at Garrosh's back, her whole body poised to strike in an instant. If they'd wanted to, they could have killed Garrosh before anyone could have even thought to react.
"KEIGO! GET YOUR ASS BACK HERE!" yelled Tatsuki suddenly snapping everyone from yet another shocked silence.
"You too Jackie," said Chad. "That was completely unnecessary."
"Are you kidding me!? Did you not just hear what he said!?" asked Keigo as he approached his leader/friend only to get punched in the gut, making him collapse to his knees.
"He didn't say shit! It was a legitimate question dumbass!"
Jackie didn't say anything, she simply glared at Garrosh who had recovered from his shock and was fingering the handle of his axe.
"But it's the cycle of rebirth he was talkin about! That's a serious insinuation he made!"
"Keigo shut up! Like I said, we all heard what he said. There's nothing wrong with pointing such a thing out. If anything he was showing concern for our world."
"Tch ya righ-oof! Fukin aye woman stop kicking me!"
"Besides," she continued, completely ignoring her subordinate, "There's no way he or anyone would get past the transcendents anyway if he really was after the cycle of rebirth."
"Transcendents?"
For the first time, another individual made himself known. Old and wise couldn't even begin to describe the guy who spoke. Tall, blue and covered in long white facial hair, this individual radiated with a holy power more pure than anything they'd ever felt before. There was a look in his eyes, countless years of knowledge and wisdom shined in his eyes and they all couldn't help but be impressed. Even if he did look eerily like an eradar.
"That is the second time one of you has said that word. What are they?"
He look intrigued.
Yuzu spoke, drawing his attention to her. Their auras were polar opposites, clashing almost as the two locked eyes. "Yes," she began. "My brother and two others." She paused and looked up at the cycle of rebirth. The she turned her attention to Vol'jin who had been content to just stare at her from his place amongst his horde allies. He burned with questions for her. She could tell.
It was endearing.
"You called me a demigod," she began. "It was very flattering. But like I said before you're mistaken. The true demigods are the three beings known as the transcendents. Ichigo Kurosaki, Juha'Bach and Aizen Souske. They patrol the cycle of rebirth protecting it from all attempts at tampering with it, aiding us against the burning legion with their god-like powers and devotion to the world. They have transcended past the limits of the soul, body and mind to become something more, each aided by a different catalyst to become the pinnacle of evolution." She smiled wistfully. "To be compared to them…It made my day."
"Oh quite actin all humble brat," growled Grimmjow playfully. "You're damn close and you and everyone else here knows it. Accept it already."
Yuzu shrugged looking embarrassed.
"So there ya have it," beamed Isshin. "No tampering with the cycle of rebirth."
Lor'themar, while looking disappointed, was mollified and a bit ashamed of his behavior. "Of course, please forgive me." Isshin waved him off.
Velen smiled. But he still had a question. "So what do you all intend to do? I can tell already that you will not join any one faction. If we cannot put aside our differences while here or convince you to sign any sort of agreement, do you simply intend to continue as you are? Fighting the burning legion as a lone world, a defiant spec of light in the darkness?"
"Wow, dramatic ain't he?" muttered Keigo. Tatsuki elbowed him. Velen didn't react at all, he simply continued to stare at Isshin who had crossed his arms. Then he sighed.
"No," he said, looking tired all of the sudden. "We can't afford to do that." He turned to his comrades. "It's no secret that all of us are getting tired. Sure we're strong but for how much longer can we keep this up on our own? We need help."
"Yes, I agree," began Uryu. "But we also cannot afford for a war to spill over into our world from theirs." He narrowed his eyes. "I will not tolerate such nonsense."
"Same here," said Tatsuki. "Like I said before. I don't care about what sort of problems you all have caused for each other in the past. I won't have them bleeding over onto our world. We got enough bullshit to deal with already. Sorry but I don't think I'll be making any alliances today."
"Same here," said Chad quietly. "It seems like the cons of establishing contact with your world outweigh the pros. I too shall refrain from seeking any agreements with you all."
And one by one, the leaders of the denizens of earth began to reject the idea of establishing contact with Azeroth…and the Horde and the Alliance saw the chance of a lifetime, the opportunity to gain access to this world and all of its resources and its extremely powerful people…slipping away. They could only watch, with varying degrees of emotions as this golden opportunity slipped away…
"I think you're all being a bit too quick to decide."
Yuzu's voice broke through the cloud of emotion enveloping the horde and the alliance, causing hope to resurge.
"I mean, look at how diverse they are. Of course there's going to be fighting." She raised an eyebrow. "We were not so different you know."
"Tch, exactly," growled Grimmjow. "You think I wanna deal with such bullshit again? Fuck no! They can keep their war to themselves!"
Garrosh began to audibly growl.
"Then we simply have to find a different way to test them. No one said that the entirety of the horde and the alliance were coming here…" Yuzu looked up in thought. It was a habit they'd all began to notice she had. "A test…that's it!" she beamed.
"A test?" asked Tyrande.
"Yes," said the will of hell. "Send a few over here. We will direct them in a manner similar to how you direct your…adventurers. They will live together, work together and look out for each other. And if they can learn to get along, even care for one another then we'll know that there is hope for you as a whole."
"That sounds really farfetched," grumbled Genn. No one missed his glare at Sylvanas. Yuzu ignored it. "So? What do you say? Do we have a deal?"
It was Garrosh who spoke, his voice quivered with anger but he showed remarkable restraint when speaking. "Fine, Spirit," he growled. "You have a deal." He turned abruptly and head back through the portal to Azeroth, several of the horde followed, with the exception of Lor'themar who gave a pointed look. "The Sin'dorai will aid you, no matter the outcome. Your world's energy…there's something about it, that…" he trailed off. This prompted raised eyebrows but the blood elf didn't elaborate. He simply bowed and left as well. The alliance took a little more time to leave as well, prhaps they were waiting for the Horde to get a bit of distance before they went back through. But when they did leave it was with a sort of grim resignation as they re-entered the chaos of their own world.
Yuzu smiled.
"Well…that was something."
Several people deadpanned at her.
AN: Well shit! That was a task and a half to type out. But there was nowhere to end the chapter that was any good! Lol until finally I found an end. I'm not entirely sure I liked the chapter itself. Parts of it just didn't seem to flow together as smoothly but thats probably the perfectionist in me talking as well. Hope you guys liked it. Also this is the longest chapter of any fic I've written in years haha. Anyway tell me what ya thought. Oh and the constant pov shifts are ending too as the actual story begins. Till next time yall!
Peace out.
