Disclaimer: IT'S TOO FUCKING HOT! I DON'T OWN
NARUTO OR WOW! MOSTLY!
Here's the next installment of The Legend of Uzumaki Naruto!
Naruto shivered.
It wasn't a result of fear, or unease. It was due to the fact that they were flying above the height that made snow fall on mountaintops, and above a raging tempest, too. They hovered above a sea of dark grey clouds, and could see and hear the flashes of lightning and crashes of thunder. It was the first time Naruto had looked down on a thunderstorm, and he was enjoying every moment of it.
So much so that he hadn't stopped staring over the railing since the storm had started, and despite the pain in his neck from bending it so much, as well as the churning winds and biting cold, he continued to stare, eyes wide like those of a little kid who just found out that instead of eating eggs for breakfast, he'd be eating candy and cake, and was going to be served by a clown wielding a large sword, which would be bequeathed to him as soon as he had watched enough cartoons to make his eyes burst.
Several times Kira had gone out and yelled at Naruto to come in, but he just grinned at her and said that he didn't want to miss anything. Not knowing what he could miss staring at a thunderstorm, she had simply sighed and stomped back inside, to the warmth and hot cocoa and the loud, blatantly made up stories of Matthias Hindenborough.
She never did understand Naruto's fascination with flying.
Naruto didn't quite understand it himself, but he never dwelled on it much anyways. Back home in Konoha, he'd only been on a flying machine once, and that was when he had been trying to save a pompous, rude snow-princess from the clutches of some mad uncle of hers. Suffice to say, he hadn't been able to enjoy it much.
His real first experience had been with Orsson's gryphons, and then later with the zeppelins and wind riders. Flying was just so much different from anything he had ever done, and it just seemed like a dream to be able to finally do it. He dearly hoped that his new summoning contract had a few flying animals in it. Sylvanas had said something about bats, and a dragon of some sort, but he hadn't been able to experiment much with the creatures. He had yet to gain their trust.
But his earliest interest in flying in the clouds had stemmed from his childhood. Back then, when he'd had nobody to talk to, and hadn't been old enough for the ninja academy, he'd just daydream. His daydreams had been exactly like those of a normal kid his age.
What would it be like to do this? Or that? Or be this? Or be that? Naruto's mind had always been buzzing and full of questions and thoughts. He'd since grown out of it (and into daydreaming about becoming Hokage and being with Sakura-chan) but flying had been the one that had always stuck with him. Many of his most memorable dreams had involved flying, him being Hokage, and him being married to Sakura-chan, all at once.
And now he could do one of those things, and he wasn't going to let any of it go to waste.
Inside the cabin, Matthias' own private quarters, Kira, Kylia and Tsuwabuki sat in soft velvet chairs, yawning occasionally as Matthias recounted a particularly memorable (but clearly fake) story about him fighting off a group of air pirates and rescuing a troll princess from their clutches, earning him much prestige among them. It was rather entertaining to listen to the man' vastly exaggerated stories, but Kira would occasionally glance out towards where Naruto was standing at the rail, staring down at the thunderstorm.
"He still out there, then?" Matthias said, stopping his story to peer out the same window Kira was looking out of.
The errant princess of Stormwind nodded. "I don't really understand it. Why is he out there in the cold watching something he's seen before?"
Matthias chuckled. "I was a bit like him, ye know. I've always loved flying; I can tell that kid does too. Those who don't love flying like we do can't understand how we think, ye know?" He sipped a bit of his cocoa. "'Sides, this is one of those chances you get to see something as intense as a tempest without being affected by it much. When we pass over a cyclone, ye'll see what I mean."
Kira nodded, slumping back into her wonderfully soft chair.
Days had passed since they had left the Undercity, making their way steadily towards the massive tree-island of the elves: Teldrassil. After the destruction of Archimonde the Defiler, Kira remembered, at the base of Nordrassil, the World Tree that had granted the elves their immortality, the elves had left that land, known as Hyjal, and attempted to grow a new tree on a secluded island. That island, and the tree, had been named Teldrassil. Since then, nobody had heard from them, and they now rarely left the isle. Kira intended to find out why.
Matthias said that there were several reasons why they had chosen the island. According to him the storm that raged below him was not at all uncommon around the island. Storms brewed constantly, and it acted as a natural deterrent to all those who wished the night elves harm. You'd have to be a fool, or Matthias Hindenborough, to try and brave the stretch of see when a tempest was in full swing around the island.
He had been to the island a few times in the past. But in the brief landings, he had seen little of the reclusive night elves, only bits and pieces, and whispered words, or animal summons to meet them when they got off to make the deliveries. The night elves no longer met anyone who was not one of their own in person.
"It's a pain sometimes, since you can't haggle with summons, usually," Matthias had muttered when he had explained this to the very group who sought to meet the elves in person.
But Matthias had assured them that despite being so mysterious, the elves would not turn her away. Their leader, Tyrande Whisperwind, was a benign and caring woman, who listened to all those who sought an audience with her. Matthias had met her once himself, saying nothing of the dealings, only that she was probably the most beautiful creature he had ever laid eyes on.
He'd gone to great lengths to describe this beauty, in several forms, too. First in prose, with very detailed and most likely made up measurements; then he had sung a song, so off-key that Naruto was sure that the windows had cracked. Then he had done a poem, with no rhyming meter, and finally a sonnet (which wasn't really a sonnet), and he would have gone for a haiku, but Naruto and Kira quickly put a stop to it.
Suffice to say they knew one thing: that Tyrande Whisperwind was beautiful, in both mind and body.
Kira remembered much about the elf's past, all from Benedictus' books and scrolls and stories. For once, she knew that Matthias wasn't exaggerating or stretching the truth, and therefore she was sure that if she could speak to Tyrande directly, the alliance would be a shoe in. It would only make sense for her to join.
But she did wonder what had made them leave in the first place.
She had told Naruto, and was almost completely sure that it had something to do with the disappearance of Malfurion Stormrage, Tyrande's mate, and Arch-Druid of the night elves. But the details of that disappearance were nothing but rumors among the humans, and therefore she had absolutely no clue what was true and what was not. Some had said he had been taken by the naga, others that he had become lost within the eternal and near endless realm called the Emerald Dream, where only the druids could walk. There were those that said he had simply abandoned his people for unclear reasons, or that he had been killed by an agent of the now shattered Burning Legion.
Whatever the case, she was sure that the elves' sudden departure from the Alliance had to do with that. But what wasn't clear to her was why they weren't contacting, or keeping in touch with the outside world. They had found friends and allies through the Alliance; so what was preventing them from continuing that relationship? They had even stopped trading with the other races.
She had constantly posed this question to Benedictus during her training, but the old man's answer had always been the same.
'I don't know. I have my theories, but it would do nothing but pollute your mind if I were to say them. We shall wait for the truth.'
Now she was going to meet that truth, head on. And she hoped that whatever it was, she could help.
She was sure that Naruto felt the same way.
"The storm's passed, then, so we should get a good look at the island in a moment."
Matthias stood next to Naruto, but his words were directed at Kira, who was standing a little ways behind both of them, shivering a little. She hadn't brought much in the way of warm clothing, and was beginning to curse her own lack of foresight.
It had been a few hours since the storm had passed, and it was nearing sunset. The crew was up on the deck once more, preparing everything to land the zeppelin. Some of them, as they passed, shot grins at Naruto, who was still riveted to the railing, staring downwards at the still cloudy skies. They were reminded of their captain, sometimes, watching the blonde.
The ocean, as dark as the night sky, was visible beneath them though patches in the clouds, but so far, nobody had spotted Teldrassil. Matthias said that that would change quite a bit, soon. He seemed to have a look of anticipation on his face, and seemed to burst with a hidden excitement that only Naruto could match. The blonde was grinning as he stared out across the sea of clouds, as if watching for something.
"What are you looking for?" Kira asked, walking over, Kylia by her side.
Matthias grinned. "Ye'll see. I told the brat earlier, but I want you to be even more surprised. It'll be quite a sight, I promise yeh."
Kira frowned, but nodded.
He was once again, quite right.
It began in the distance, a huge, dark patch in the seemingly endless clouds. It was even more noticeable with the rays of the sun bathing the soft white of the clouds in fiery orange. As they neared it, she saw that it was a massive hole, expanding for leagues in every direction. They soon reached the edge, and they were able to gaze through it.
And there it was.
Teldrassil.
Bathed in the ardent light of the setting sun, the island of Teldrassil looked a paradise. The trees, their colors ranging from the deepest of greens to the richest of blues and darkest of purples, covered every inch. It was a rolling sea of color and life, frozen in time. It started at the very edge of the cloud clearing, and went all the way around, and across, until there was no more land left, and there the clouds returned. The clouds had parted just for Teldrassil, and no matter what storms raged around it, the island would remain untouched, all its delicate beauty preserved forever. The light of the sun, which set the clouds on fire and illuminated even the darkest of seas, seemed to be swallowed by the dark, leafy covering of the island. There were no orange highlights upon the trees, no bath from the bright light of the vanishing sun. The trees were pure and dark. And they would always remain so.
"Take a good, long look," said Matthias, pointing to the sun behind them. "'Cause it's the last time you're gonna see it for some time."
Naruto and Kira peered at him, blinking. "Whaddya mean?" asked Naruto.
"The sun doesn't touch the land of the night elves. Never has, never will. It's always night to them, no matter how high the sun rises, or how brightly it shines. They will always be shrouded in darkness."
The last few words struck Naruto as a little strange. He dismissed it, however, never one to really take such things into account.
The zeppelin began to descend, through the parting in the clouds and down towards the dark sea of trees. The crew worked furiously, releasing ballast, cutting the engine power slightly, and fiddling with all sorts of knobs and doodads in the rooms below them. The zeppelin made an easy and swift descent towards the very edge of the forest. Matthias explained that only on the beaches could they land, for there were too many trees everywhere else.
The zeppelin rocked back and forth as it fell, the winds kicking up as they glided down, making Kylia turn a little green and rush for the side. Matthias let out a cheerful whoop, echoed by Naruto a few seconds later. Kira had to smile as well. Now that they were not nearly so high, and it wasn't nearly so cold, she began to enjoy herself. She took a place beside Naruto near the railing, and watched as the ground came to meet them.
The zeppelin landed softly on the wet sand of the beach, making an equally soft sound as it touched and skidded lightly upon the ground before coming to a complete stop. Kira was amazed. The zeppelin that she had ridden on her initial trip to Orgrimmar had nearly crashed, and Matthias' had hardly made a sound.
'Imagine that, a zeppelin team with all humans can land one better than a team of goblins,' she mused. Two ramps were let down on either side of the zeppelin, allowing the crew to get off to stretch and rest. Naruto, Kira and Kylia grabbed their things and then joined the rest of the crew on the solid ground. Kylia sighed in relief, feeling the slightly damp, yet perfectly solid ground beneath them. Naruto looked the exact opposite, staring mournfully back at the zeppelin.
Matthias waved them over. He was standing near the edge of the forest, gazing in. They could see little, for it was very dark within.
"Now, a coupla words o' advice, yeah?" said Matthias. He pointed into the forest.
"First thing you gotta remember is that the night elves are the rulers o' that place. Don't do anything you wouldn't do in a palace, cause they take all threats to their home very seriously. Second thing is that you might get lost. I don't think it'll be too long, though, before the night elves' summons and partners find you. Just tell them what you wanna say, and they'll probably bring you in for further questioning.
"Last thing is don't make many sudden movements. You'll likely be followed from the moment ye step in, and if yeh appear to be doing something they won't like, you'll be dead afore you could even think of it."
Kira glanced uneasily into the forest. "But we're humans. Surely they won't…?"
Matthias shrugged. "Nearly lost a few o' my more moronic mates last time we were here. Like I said, don't do anything that's outta place in a castle or before a king. Got it?" He looked sharply at Naruto in saying this.
Naruto nodded, frowning. "Got it."
Matthias nodded, breaking into a grin. "Just say everythin' you gotta say, love. I don't doubt that these guys will be the best listeners so far. 'Course, that's all based on what I've heard, seeing as how I've never met them afore. But you get the idea, eh?"
Kira shook her head a little, sweat dropping. Could they really rely on someone like this?
Matthias clapped Naruto on the shoulder, grinning. "Seeya later boy. Give us a call when you need to get back, yeah? I'll bet yeh yeh'll be back in week, tops."
Naruto blinked, before he grinned. "Heh, done. I don't lose bets."
Kira sweat dropped. He had just bet against them staying for only a short time. What was he thinking?
"You will this one," said Matthias, shaking Naruto's hand, and grinning widely. Naruto grinned widely too, and after a moment, it became clear that they would enter the same contest they had started before they had gotten off in Lordaeron. Kira yanked Naruto away, and after saying a quick goodbye to Matthias and the rest of the crew, plunged into the forest.
Matthias watched them go, trying to ignore a sudden feeling that he had just lost the bet.
The forest, as Matthias had said, was indeed quite dark. But it was not a normal darkness, like one would find in a forest. It was as if the whole forest was trapped in twilight, where there was just enough light to see, but it could still be considered dark. But there appeared to be no light source; it was omnipresent. Looking into the canopy above him, Naruto spotted occasional glitters from what appeared to be insects of some sort, sailing to and fro from behind leaves and within tree trunks. These insects seemed to glow, like fireflies, only unceasingly; like miniature light bulbs.
The little creatures soon captured Kira's attention as well. She, however, knew their true identity.
"Wisps…" she whispered.
Naruto turned to her, frowning. "What?"
Kylia, who was gazing in slight awe at the little lights, answered for her mistress. "They are spirits of nature, who have always been allies of the night elves. They are probably the source of light here, too."
Kira nodded. "They, it is said, were responsible for the destruction of the demon lord, Archimonde, during the last war."
Naruto blinked, and then looked up again, having a little more respect for the seemingly innocent looking little lights. They walked further on; the wisps present every step of the way.
The forest around them had very little in the way of bushes and brush at first. There were plenty of mushrooms, strange little trees with twisting trunks, and large patches of the strangest purple moss with pretty little flowers blooming atop them. As they went deeper, however, small bushes with deep red leaves or needles appeared, along with a handful of other strange looking flora. It was easily the oddest forest Naruto had been in.
The smells were very unique, too. Even Elwynn and Silverpine forests did not possess the sheer primordial smell that this place did. It smelt old, delicate, and as beautiful as it looked. The musty scent of mushrooms and the delicate smell of all sorts of flowers were the most prominent, but the older smells of the trees, the ground, and probably the animals too, caught his attention.
Naruto noticed that the same animals seemed to be following them.
He only caught glimpses of them out of the corner of his eye; a flicker of movement, and when he turned to look, nothing; or a pair of shining yellow eyes for a single instant, before they vanished in another. He wondered if they were the summon animals that had met Matthias every time he had come before.
There was no discernible path as they walked, only trusting Matthias' faith that once enough time had passed, and they hadn't done anything, then the creatures would confront them. Kira just tried to look as interested as possible, hoping that by displaying a healthy interest in the world around her, she'd be able to show her watchers that she could do no harm. Naruto, on the other hand, looked exactly the opposite, hoping that if he looked bored, then they'd think he wasn't interested in doing anything to the forest.
Kylia remained silent and stoic, glancing around, especially into the trees, hoping that whatever was watching them would make itself known soon. She didn't like surprises very much. Tsuwabuki shared her opinion, plodding alongside Naruto; her sharp ears ready to pick up anything suspicious coming their way.
They didn't know how long they walked, but their legs were aching when something finally did happen.
From the brush, a tall form emerged, blending in almost completely into the darkness of the forest. It appeared so suddenly that Naruto gave a startled yelp and stepped back, nearly tripping over Tsuwabuki. Kira stopped instantly, meeting the big amber eyes of a massive stag. It had huge, gnarled horns that resembled the branches of trees, and its body was almost a solid black, with flecks of silver and highlights of brown near the back.
The stag turned its head to the side, watching them calmly. It didn't speak, or do anything but stare at them.
"Oi," said Naruto, stepping forwards. "Are you the one who's supposed to meet us?"
The stag didn't respond, instead peering closely and intensely at the blonde, and sniffed him.
"Hoo hoo hoo. Indeed he is, unfortunately, he is not gifted with the power of speech."
Naruto snapped his head up, catching sight of a great winged shape, which descended from the darkness of the trees to land atop the stag's great antlers. It was an owl, huge and white, with small black spots dotting its back.
"You can talk!" Kira said, staring in astonishment at the owl. Naruto was less surprised. After seeing one of Kakashi's dogs and a horde of toads talk, it wasn't as surprising as one would think.
The owl puffed up his feathers, looking important. "Indeed. All owl summons are gifted with speech, human girl. I am the representative sent to meet those who are deemed worthy enough to exist in the forest. It seems you have come with good intentions, but might I ask; what is your business here?" His speech was quite formal sounding, and possessed a trace of an accent than none of them could identify.
Kira took a deep breath. "We wish to meet with Tyrande Whisperwind, leader of the night elves. We wish to discuss a possible alliance, which we believe may be able to end the war that is brewing throughout the world. Is there any way we might speak to her?"
The owl cocked its head to the side, looking at the girl almost upside down.
"I don't see why not. You seem to have nothing but good intentions, and I am a very good judge of character. Of course, they are probably better…."
The owl suddenly gave a loud hoot, and they were surrounded. Figures cloaked in shadow and wielding large, shuriken-like weapons, slid from the ancient darkness of the forest. They were tall and slim, and their eyes all glowed a deep, vibrant yellow. They were not eerie orbs, like the Forsaken, but had eyes sharp and piercing, like those of Sylvanas.
Naruto very nearly drew his sword in preparation for battle. Kira, however, quickly motioned him to stop, knowing that any motion they made would be seen long before they prepared a coherent defense, and acted accordingly upon. She was in no mood to have Naruto, or any of them, get hurt.
One of the figures then stepped forwards. Its body became visible all at once, revealing a tall, sinewy, elegant and incredibly beautiful elvish woman. Her hair was a deep purple, while her skin was lighter, more lavender. Her ears were even longer than Sylvanas' had been, and three lines had been painted below her eyes in vibrant red. She was dressed in a form-fitting scale chest plate, and tight leather pants, both a deep blue with silver lining. A variety of weapons were strapped around her waist, and she brandished the large, three-pointed shuriken weapon in front of her. Her glowing eyes were narrowed on the four travelers.
"Come to see lady Tyrande, have you?" she said, stonily.
Kira nodded, straightening up and trying to look as official as possible. "Yes."
The night elf cocked her head to the side, questioningly. "Your name?"
"Kira Wrynn," said Kira, hardening her eyes and saying it with as much power and influence as she could muster. "And my friends: Kylia, Tsuwabuki and—"
"Uzumaki Naruto," Naruto said, stepping forwards. The elf swiveled her head to look down at him, but her face remained unchanged. She gazed into Naruto's steely glare for a moment, and then nodded.
"Right then. You pass. Follow me!" Her expression then changed so swiftly and suddenly that it took Naruto a moment to realize she was grinning, and her entire posture had relaxed. She no longer looked imposing, but rather friendly and inviting, and even a little vivacious. She seemed totally at ease with their presence.
Kira looked at the elf, dumbfounded for a second. "Pass? Pass what?"
The elf peered at her. "The test, obviously." She then rolled her eyes as if it was the most obvious thing in the world. The gesture morphed the tall, heavily armed elf into a petulant looking teenager, and Naruto couldn't help but snort a little, despite not knowing what was going on.
"Of course…the test…" Kira said, blinking. Then, "What test?"
The elf sighed. "The test to prove that you aren't going to harm anything. It's a test we give to all humans and gnomes. Don't worry yourself with the details, the context of the test are secret to everyone but those administering it. You passed, so don't worry about it."
Kira paused. "And if we didn't pass?"
"You'd be dead."
Naruto was stuck on something else she had said. "You said you just give it to humans and gnomes. What about dwarves?"
The elf frowned at him. "You mean you're a dwarf? My mistake," she said, grinning. "We give it to everyone, but since I thought there were only a pair of humans and a gnome here…"
Naruto, realizing that he was being insulted, growled in fury. "Oi! Take that back you purple giraffe!"
The female elf glared furiously at him. "What did you say? You little…!"
"Neera."
The female elf caught herself, looking a little chastened. One of the other elves, also a woman, stepped forwards, the shadows melting away from her. She was even taller than her companion, with greenish hair and darker skin. She looked older, as well.
"Sorry, commander," Neera said, blushing a little. "You know how my temper gets."
The commander elf nodded, simply shooting her a disappointed glare before schooling her features and turning to look at Naruto and the others.
"Forgive Neera, she is young," she said. "You came to speak with Lady Tyrande, our Priestess of the Moon, yes?"
Kira nodded. "Is it possible?"
The commander stared at her a moment, as if judging her. "Yes," she finally said. "Follow Neera to our capital, Darnassus. Lady Tyrande might be available, and if not, then you are welcome to stay until she is ready." She stepped back, then, and vanished into the shadows, along with the rest of the elves. The stag cantered off, and the owl flew back into the trees. They were alone with the elf girl.
Naruto blinked, and looked around him, amazed at their ability. It reminded him slightly of the Kagesui, and a little of how ninjas in his own village could vanish.
Neera sighed, and then smiled at the group again. "Well, as she said, follow me, okay? It's a fair distance to the city, since you guys went in completely the wrong direction…."
"And whose fault is that?" Naruto said, raising an eyebrow at the elf, who huffed.
"It's not our fault that you guys have no sense of direction, now, is it?" said Neera, sticking her tongue out at the blonde, and smirking petulantly. Naruto twitched; opening his mouth to deliver what he believed was a witty and appropriate retort (which, in all likelihood, was neither). Kira however, had had enough of their bickering already, and sent a withering glare in the blonde's direction, causing him to stop. His "pissed-off-girl-sense" was tingling non-stop, and, with Sakura's, Ino's, and especially Tsunade's reactions in mind, he quickly shut up and began walking.
Neera was right; it turned out to be quite a distance through the dark forest to Darnassus. However, no matter how long they walked, in never got brighter, nor darker, making it impossible to judge really how long they had been walking.
Neera was a bright and cheerful presence along the way, seeming almost as chatty as Naruto. However, she seemed to have the personality of a small child, and whined almost as much as she chattered. She was easily amused and interested by the most mundane of things (for her, at least; there was nothing mundane for the humans in Teldrassil). This led to Naruto asking the question that was on all of their minds.
"How old are you?"
Neera, who was walking a little in front of the rest of them, turned back to look at the blonde, frowning.
"Twenty-two. Why?"
Naruto cocked his head to the side. "'Cause you act like you're seven."
Neera glared at him. "How rude! I do not!"
'Yes you do…' Kira and Kylia echoed, sweat dropping.
"I'm young, so I'm allowed to act young. Besides," she thrust out her prominent chest, smirking. "Do I look seven?"
Naruto blushed a little, clamping his mouth shut so that he didn't say anything that he'd regret. They walked on in silence for a little while longer.
Neera finally said, "You're the first humans I've ever met…so sorry if I'm a little hyper. You're the first non-elves I've seen since I was really little."
Kira blinked. "Oh…that's right, you really are young, in terms of elf years, aren't you?"
Neera nodded. "I was only one or so when the war ended, so I can't really recall much from then. I'm part of the newer generation of elves…the one that has to learn as fast as possible, because we no longer have an eternity to live and train. I'm still a rookie Sentinel, but I'm getting better."
"What's a Sentinel?" Naruto asked, falling into step beside the elf girl and looking up at her, frowning.
Neera blinked at the boy, almost in disbelief, before she realized whom she was talking too. "A Sentinel is a specially trained female warrior elf. We follow both the path of the warrior, and the healer. The term always used to apply to the warriors with the best training and most experience among our kind. But that was when we had all the time in the world to train. Now Sentinels are selected at a very young age, and trained until they are ready to fight. I'm one of the few who has made in it, so far. Lady Tyrande and Lieutenant Shandris believe that I have talent, and wanted me to gain as much practical experience as possible." Then, she snorted, almost disgustedly. "But there isn't really much at all in the way of practical experience nowadays."
"Why's that?" asked Kira.
"Aside from the furbolgs, there aren't many threats to our society. I suppose that's lucky, but if a lot of time passes and nothing happens, then we'll be out of sufficiently trained and experienced Sentinels. I think that's what the older generations fear the most," said Neera, sighing.
"But you're saying that a human hasn't set foot here since you came?" Kira asked.
Neera shook her head. "That's not true. There have been a lot, I'm sure. But I never saw or met any of them, because I was in training all that time. Sentinel training becomes a way of life for those who choose that path, or so my commander keeps telling me. She's right, though, because the entire time in training, I never once saw my family." She smiled, a little sadly. "I never saw any of the dwarves or gnomes that came, either. So sorry for the crack earlier," she said, looking at Naruto apologetically. "I knew you were human, 'cause you all looked the same. I just wanted to make a good impression, I suppose."
Naruto grinned immediately at her. "Hehe, apology accepted."
Neera smiled back at the blonde, looking immensely relieved. She then turned to Kira.
"You said that the reason you were here was that you wanted to form an alliance again. But why are you here, and not the king or something?" she asked. "I mean, unless I'm mistaken, you guys are pretty young…."
"No," Kira assured her with a smile. "You're right. It is a little weird…but we are the only ones that can do it, and that is why we are here."
They continued to walk. Through an endless number of trees, trapped in almost permanent twilight. Wisps followed them, every way they went, hovering a few feet above their heads, at points dipping down and fluttering in front of their faces. Naruto smiled brightly up at them, grinning like a child at the strange little creatures.
Neera grinned at his reaction, and told them a little about the other wildlife that could be found in the miles and miles of forest on the island. She told them of panthers as black as night, that could devour a man whole. She told them of the caverns where massive spiders and wicked kobolds could be found. She told them of the flocks of birds, which hid high in the trees, only coming down to gather food. She told them of the lakes where the moss elementals crept along the shores, protecting the lakes from those impure and unworthy; where all manner of fish floated in the clear waters, their scales glittering with a veritable rainbow of colors; and thousands of different kinds of insects, from the size of a grain of sand to a mighty boulder, could be found.
Hearing Neera describe the land around them reminded the group of the forests that they were used to. Naruto remembered the forests of Konoha, and all the time he had spent in them. Of his training amidst the trees, kicking logs, throwing shuriken at trees, and leaping from tree to tree like a monkey might. He remembered the tree-climbing exercise that Kakashi had taught them in the Wave country, too. It brought a smile to his face, but a pang of longing in his heart.
Kira and Kylia had never really been in the forest around Stormwind, but had always gazed at it from afar, Kira wishing that she could see the wonders that it undoubtedly contained up close for herself, while Kylia was relieved that she and her mistress were safe inside her castle. King Anduin, and Benedictus, had always denied Kira entry, because of the gnolls, bears and other horrible creatures that lurked within. She smiled almost contentedly, for she was now trudging through a forest as she had always longed to. At the same time, Kylia stuck closely to her mistress, her eyes watchful for any sort of danger that might leap out at them, as she was told could happen in forests.
Tsuwabuki, like Naruto, was reminded of her own forests, back in Kalimdor. She had roamed all over, from the forests of Ashenvale, which resembled this greatly, to the peaceful ones in Mulgore. She even remembered the forests of Feralas, far to the south, where the mighty hippogryphs and gryphons roamed.
Oddly enough, even in this forest of endless night, every one of them felt content.
Finally, they arrived.
The distant sounds of activity, of mass movement that was present in all bustling cities, reached the group long before they saw the city. The smells too, even with Kira and Kylia's inferior senses, caught their attention; the smell of a cooking fire, and of many different sumptuous, but unidentifiable, foods roasting atop them; the smells of cloth and leather dyes, pungent, yet still enjoyable; the smell of sweat and grease, of fire and boiling metal, from forges and blacksmiths. It all came together, speaking to them of civilization.
Neera sped up a little. "Come on! Lady Tyrande may still be able to see you if you hurry!"
They hurried forwards, through the trees and towards the sounds and smells. Eventually they emerged from the forest into a massive clearing, where the entrance to the city of Darnassus loomed above them.
It appeared as a great stone arch, white as bone, with webs of vines climbing up the sides, and large, beautiful flowers blooming upon these vines. Instead of a door blocking entrance into the city, there was a gigantic tree, with purplish leaves and a pair of immense roots digging into the ground in front of it. Many other trees of much smaller sizes peppered the area around the arch, as well as beds of light blue flowers and a large stone pool. A stone walkway led away from the arch and the tree, towards where the group had emerged from the forest. It split into two separate roads, leading in opposite directions into more forest.
A wall of trees blocked any view of the city. Birds of all colors and sizes perched in the canopies of these trees, singing beautiful songs to all who might be willing to listen. Other wildlife peppered the grove, too. Small deer, grazing on the blue flower patches and delightfully green grass; little squirrels and chipmunks racing up and down trees, gathering their nuts and cones; a few rabbits, busily chewing away on little ferns and other such grasses; finally, a great, black stag stood near the pool, taking a long drink from the sparklingly clear waters. Wisps floated in every inch of the grove, simply hovering softly or bouncing around joyfully.
Though there were no trees blocking the sky, it was invisible nonetheless. A haze of purple obscured almost everything, darkening the area to the point where it was only just lighter than the darkness of the forest.
Matthias had been right when he had said that no sunlight ever touched this place.
Neera grinned at their awe, pleased that she could be the one to show them such a sight before anyone else. She had lived in Darnassus almost all her life, and therefore while she was not numb to its beauty, she knew it so well by heart that even when she wasn't there she could see it. It gave her immense pleasure to see a group of people who had never laid eyes on such beauty see her home, and know that she had been the one to introduce it to them.
She led them right up to the gigantic tree, her eyes focused somewhere around its middle. She then gave a long, deep bow.
And the tree moved.
Startled, Naruto and the others backed away. The massive roots at its foot of its trunk turned out not to be roots at all, but a pair of thick, mighty legs. Two spindly, branch-like arms separated from the trunk, each movement emitting a crack like a bone snapping. High up on the trunk, beneath two patches of greenish moss, the bark unfurled and two luminous yellow eyes opened, glowing the same shade as Neera's. A large knot of bark became the nose beneath it, and amidst a path of leafy vines just below that, a mouth opened, showing nothing but a cavernous darkness within.
Wide-eyed, Naruto, Kira, Kylia and Tsuwabuki stared up at the massive tree-giant, which stared down at all of them with its glowing eyes, its mouth closed into a thin line. Then, it began to speak.
The words that flowed from it were unlike any they had ever heard. Despite being said in a booming and yet raspy voice, they flowed forth like a steady stream, clear and beautiful. The felt lighter than air, yet still descended to meet them, filling their ears with its melodious quality. It sounded almost as if the creature was singing them, yet there was no tune.
When it finished, Neera spoke in the same, elegant, beautiful language. It sounded far more proper coming from her, in Naruto's opinion, and the singing quality was much more pronounced. The words fluttered from her tongue and flew like wisps through the air, lifting Naruto's heart. Despite her childish personality, when she spoke the words, she sounded as ancient and all knowing as he had expected the elves to be.
When she finished, the tree giant gave a solemn nod, and took two thunderous steps aside, allowing them access. Neera immediately walked through, Naruto and the others quickly following. When they had passed through the archway, the creature returned to its place.
"That was so cool!" Naruto gushed, immediately after they had gotten past.
Neera blushed a little. "Thanks. Was that the first time you've heard Darnassian?"
They all nodded. "It sounded like you sung them," said Kira, remembering the careful lilts and pauses in her speech, and her constant change in pitch and volume.
Neera nodded. "It's like that. They songs are even better," she added, grinning. "You'll have to hear one or two while you're here."
"What was that thing, though?" asked Naruto, looking at the giant tree's back.
"An Ancient Protector. They are spirits of the forest that have helped protect us since, well, just about forever," Neera answered. "They're incredibly powerful." She then turned, and looked around. The building they were in was long, made up of on a long terrace which ran in both directions away from them. Directly in front of them there was a ramp that led onto a small, square area where many elves were conversing and several shops had been set up. There were many more of these ramps down the colonnade, though a particularly wide one was to their right, which led down onto flat ground and towards the shores of a large, beautiful lake. Neera nodded again. "It's that way," she said, pointing towards the large ramp. "Lady Tyrande is usually within the Temple of the Moon. Follow me."
They did so, noticing that there were few elves walking along the terrace. The ones that were there were as beautiful and elegant looking as Neera. The males were even taller than the females—with large, muscular, perfectly proportioned bodies that made Naruto slightly jealous. Especially the tall part.
They paid a great deal more attention to the group than the people of the Horde had. They seemed immensely surprised that there were humans once again among them, and gave them slight nods as they walked by, their faces either twisted in confusion or brimming with wide smiles. It seemed that despite all their reclusiveness, they had not forgotten the Alliance they had once had. It made Kira grin widely, and happily return any look or gesture that the elves made towards them.
When they reached the lake, Neera directed them towards a large bridge, which led all the way to the center of the lake, where there was an island.
She pointed across the bridge, toward the island. "Those are the Temple Gardens. The bank resides there, along with a few other tradesmen and a beautiful park where many elves like to spend time in. It's the only way to reach the Temple of the Moon."
"What's the Temple of the Moon?" Naruto asked, as they began their trek across the bridge.
Neera stopped, looking at him as if he was insane. "You don't know what the—"
Kira broke in quickly. "Naruto isn't from around here…it's a bit hard to explain, but we intend to explain it all when we meet Lady Tyrande."
Neera looked at the girl, before nodding. "Right. The Temple of the Moon was originally the place where the Priestesses of the Moon resided, and made offerings to our great goddess, Elune. Nowadays, it serves as our palace, and is where Lady Tyrande and the rest of the Council help run the city."
"Council?" Kira asked, blinking. "What kind of Council?" She had been under the impression that it had been Tyrande alone who led the night elves. She had never heard anything about a Council.
"The Council of Teldrassil," said Neera, looking a little uneasy. "It is essentially a group of our most prominent and powerful citizens, who help govern the city and the rest of the island. It was modeled after the human kingdom's Council, I'm told, so you might know something about its functions. Lady Tyrande is a part of it."
A tendril of worry crept into Kira's mind. If they had a council to contend with, that might complicate things. She was familiar enough with her own father's council to know that something like what she was proposing would not sit well with everyone. She hoped that Tyrande, if she did indeed agree and listen to them, would be able to sway their opinions.
Even so, as they reached the Temple Gardens, she felt more than a little nervous.
Everything was blown away, however, when she spotted the Temple of the Moon.
In front of them lay a large, white stone pathway, which led gradually upwards towards a massive building, which seemed as ethereal and bright as the moon itself. The temple was circular, with a huge dome stretching into the dark purple sky; on its front was a large stone entryway, decorated with elaborate columns and vast statues of beautiful, yet imposing, elvish women. Strange writing topped the entryway and all the way down the columns, which loomed bigger and bigger as they approached.
As they got closer, she spotted long green vines stretching up the sides of the temple walls, and wrapping around the columns and statues. Rather than making it look like it was unkempt and old, the vines added to the incredible beauty of the structure. It was as if the builder and arranged them there (which was in all likelihood, quite so). The three humans (the fox didn't bother) had to crane their necks to their limits in order to take in the whole structure themselves. It was amazing.
Many night elves peppered the entryway, coming in and out. They, unlike what one expected those working in the capital to be like, moved serenely and calmly about, speaking in soft tones to each other, or waiting calmly for something or another to happen. There was no rush, no hurried movements or frantic shouting. Kira was awed by the fact that they had such rein on their emotions. The humans, she decided, could certainly learn.
When they started to approach the entryway, two Sentinels blocked their path, with a startling swiftness that only Naruto and Neera were able to pick up on.
"Sentinel Neera, you have brought the humans?" one of them asked, stepping forwards.
Neera nodded, while the others stared in astonishment at the Sentinel who had spoken. How had they known they were here?
"Yes," said Neera. "Is Lady Tyrande available, or is she too busy?"
"Lady Tyrande has specifically made time to meet with them, upon hearing of their arrival. She is in the Moonwell, waiting for you. You may lead them in, Sentinel Neera. May Elune bless you." She was gone a moment later, her companion along with her.
Naruto was dazed at their speed and ability to disappear. He definitely needed to learn that.
"How did they know we were coming?" asked Kira.
"The owl you met before came back here long before we did. He alerted everyone to your presence. He's rather snotty, in my opinion, but does his job well, I suppose. Let's go, shall we? I don't want to keep Lady Tyrande waiting."
Kira nodded, following alongside the female elf. Naruto, Tsuwabuki and Kylia quickly followed.
Upon entering the Temple, they were met with a long hallway, with two rows of columns on either side. It was heavily populated with night elves, all of which were female, and dressed in the whitest of robes. They bowed to Neera and her charges as they walked by, and Neera gave bashful nods to each of them.
"These are the Sisters of Elune who have dedicated their lives to serving our goddess, but have not the power or skill to become Priestesses of the Moon. They are mostly healers, specializing in recovery jutsu. Some of them are selected, when they have grown strong enough, to train to become Priestesses of Elune."
"Could you become a Priestess? I remember reading that the Priestesses of Elune lead the Sentinels in battle, is that true?" asked Kira, looking up at the tall elf.
Neera nodded. "I could. It works both ways, you see. A Sentinel trains in both the war and the healing arts, just as the novices here do. The difference is specialization. I specialize in battle, they in healing. If they can excel in both, they become Priestesses."
Kira nodded, falling silent. It was no wonder that the elves were said to be among the greatest of warriors in the world. She couldn't have imagined what it would have felt like to fight against them.
"There are few Priestesses, nowadays, however," said Neera softly. Kira looked at her questioningly, but Neera said nothing more as they walked down the hallway, towards a darkened room.
The room they entered was unlike anything they had seen before. It was massive, circular, and bore resemblance to an indoor grove or garden. The floor was a deep green grass, and every so often a tree had sprouted into the air, with canopies of deep purple and green. Some stretched all the way to the second floor, while others remained low in youth. Bushes and patches of flowers decorated the ground as well, growing near trees or the stone walkway that ran through the entire room. In the center was a large stone pool, which glowed an intense electric blue. A statue of a night elf stood in the center of the pool, raising a stone basin into the air, which overflowed with the same blue glowing water. It stood directly in the deep purple light that shined through a hole in the top of the dome.
Standing near this pool was a female night elf, dressed in a white robe. She had her backed turned to them, and was staring into the pool. Neera, upon sighting the elf, bowed deeply, urging the others to do the same. Kira and Kylia bowed in the same fashion as Neera, by getting to their knees and prostrating themselves upon the ground. Naruto, however, just gave a respectful bow as he had seen others of his kind do in the presence of the Hokage. He figured that this was at least someone who deserved it.
"My lady," said Neera, sitting up. "I have brought the humans."
Tyrande Whisperwind turned to meet them, revealing a perfect face on a similarly perfect body. Her hair was a deep, ocean blue, and her skin light lavender. Her eyes, which were as pure white as Sylvanas', were nonetheless filled with a wisdom and age that everyone could feel. Even if Neera had not introduced them, it had been obvious since they had seen her that she was Tyrande Whisperwind, the leader of the night elves.
Tyrande smiled serenely at them, walking towards the group. "Thank you Neera. I trust that your first meeting with a human was a good one?"
Neera blushed a little. "Mostly, yeah. They're all right."
Tyrande chuckled. "I'm glad." Her eyes then swept to Kira, Kylia, and finally to Naruto and Tsuwabuki in the back. She said nothing to them at first, only appraised them. Finally, she gave a satisfied nod, and bent down, offering a hand to Kira.
"If you are who you say you are, child, then stand and face me as an equal. Your friend is already doing so."
Kira jerked upright, and turned towards Naruto, who, as Tyrande had said, was standing fully upright, his arms crossed, looking as important as he could. Kira twitched at his disrespect, before reasoning that it was useless to try and control Naruto. She took Tyrande's hand and stood. With Tyrande standing several heads taller than her, Kira wondered how they could be considered equals.
Tyrande offered Kylia a hand as well, and the handmaiden blushed, stammering a quick thanks before taking it.
When everyone was standing, Tyrande beckoned. "Let us find a place to sit and talk. I am interested in what you have to say."
The group nodded as one, and followed the beautiful elf towards the pool. Neera stayed behind at first, but Tyrande gave her a sharp look, and she quickly followed. Tyrande brushed off a place on the stone side of the pool, and took a seat, while the others found places on the ground around her. Kira did not sit, knowing that she was going to recount her story soon enough.
"You must have come far," said Tyrande, when everyone was settled. "Was it Matthias who brought you here? He is the only one I can think of who might be good enough, or perhaps…unbalanced enough, to fly here during the stormy season."
Kira nodded. "Yes, he and Naruto are friends." She pointed to Naruto for emphasis.
"So that is his name? And the fox is Tsuwabuki? And the one behind you is Kylia? And yours is Kira, is it not? I remember hearing of your birth, long ago. How is your father?"
Kira lowered her head a little. "He is dead, my lady."
Tyrande's eyes widened sharply. "How can that…? How?"
Kira took a deep breath. "It is part of the story that I plan to tell you, my lady. It would make more sense if it was in context, first."
Tyrande nodded. "Yes, it would. Tell me everything from the beginning then. Spare no detail—time is not a factor."
Kira nodded, exchanging a look with Naruto, and then began.
"The humans have arrived, sir."
Fandral Staghelm, Arch-Druid of the Night Elves, stood among the towering trees of the Cenarion Enclave. It was the place where his kind, the druids, practiced their faith and trained. Surrounding him were hundreds of trees, all of which towered above him, their beautiful foliage shrouding the area in almost pitch darkness. But he enjoyed the darkness.
A younger night elf stood beside him, unsure of what to do now that the message had been delivered. Finally, Fandral gave him a pointed stare, and waved his hand. The night elf hurried away, glad to be out of the elf's imposing presence.
Fandral stood taller than most elves, though his body was perfectly proportioned nonetheless. His skin was dark lavender, and his hair as green and plentiful as the water of the sea. It nearly covered his pointed elvish ears. A bushy beard, with twigs and leaves stuck to it, and sap binding parts of it together, framed his heavy jaw. His eyes were a brighter yellow than most elves, and in the darkness, could easily be mistaken for a pair of wisps.
He wore no covering on his chest, which was peppered with battle scars, and wore a leather kilt upon his lower half. He wore no shoes, enjoying the feeling of the ground upon the soles of his feet. He leaned on a gnarled wooden staff, his constant companion, and did nothing for a while but stare into the trees.
He cursed in Darnassian.
He knew exactly what the humans wanted. There was no other reason for their coming, and that was further backed up when the spirits of the forest, the wisps, told him of their reasons for coming. He scowled. He had no doubt that Tyrande was listening to them as he stood there, and knew her answer too.
But he knew what to do.
Despite what many believed, Tyrande was not the leader of the elves. The Council was. He knew that no matter what words Tyrande used, or how she used them, would never get the Council to accept what they were doing.
He was going to make sure of that.
He turned, and left the Enclave, his destination a place that he had come to detest in recent years. The Temple of the Moon.
He would put a stop to Tyrande's foolish plans. He would make her see reason.
Tyrande's voice was filled with amazement.
"I cannot…unbelievable! Your story is amazing! I will not ask if you have truly done all of this, because I can tell it from your eyes. I just…it just astounds me!"
Kira was smiling widely. It was the first positive response she had gotten since she had joined the quest. Staring at Tyrande's stunned face made Kira's hopes grew beyond their normal boundaries, and made her giddy with the prospect of Tyrande's answer. She knew that somehow, it wouldn't be so easy, but she could not stop herself from feeling the elation of victory. Her dream was so close to being completed; it all depended on this woman's answer.
"I cannot believe that you were able to convince Sylvanas," said Tyrande, her eyes raking to Naruto. "I met her all of once, when she still lived, and even then, she seemed to me a person who concealed all that she had. How did you see the things that she concealed?"
Naruto shrugged, grinning. "It's a gift, I guess. One of my friends once told me that, even when he has eyes that could see through walls and into people's bodies, mine were still better. I guess its true."
Tyrande nodded, her smile widening a little. "You have done quite a bit. All of you," she added, her eyes sweeping to the others. "You have done something that in all my years I would have never thought possible. You have somehow united the peoples of this world; in the past, this was a feat that one could only dream of. To do what you have done has impressed me beyond anything. It makes me shameful to know that I have been here, rather than helping you in your quest. I can see that it is so close to being completed. If you are able to make this work, then you will be the first in the history of this world to forge an Alliance of such power.
"And it all relies on my answer…yes?"
Kira gave a short nod, but added hastily, "You don't have to answer right away; if you wish to think it over, then…"
Tyrande held up a hand, smiling. "There is nothing to think about. I give you my full backing."
Kira could hardly believe it. Just like that, she had done it. Sure, Matthias had told her that it would be pretty easy, and she herself had been confident that she could do it, but when it was all said and done, it was astounding at how receptive they had been. After Sylvanas, and even Thrall, who had forced them to give their blood, sweat, and tears in order to be convinced, it just seemed so easy.
Her dream was accomplished.
Just like that.
So embroiled in her shock and elation was she that she almost missed Tyrande's next words, which were said with downcast eyes and a brittle smile.
"But it is not up to me."
Kira's thoughts came to an abrupt halt, and she froze.
"What?"
Tyrande's eyes met hers, and they were filled with remorse, disappointment, and even a little anger. The anger was not focused at Kira, just at the situation.
"The Council is now responsible for every decision that we make. Once it was formed, I was only but a voice among the crowd, and now I am only leader of our race in name. In order for us to make this alliance, then we must gather the Council, and convince them to accept it. You have no clue of the magnitude of that problem.
"But, rest assured, I will do everything in my power to make it happen." Her eyes suddenly became steely, and she seemed to glow with a power that since they had arrived, she had restrained. The kindness that had appeared at first was now gone.
This, Kira suddenly realized, was the Tyrande that Benedictus had told him about.
"Then be prepared for a long fight, Tyrande," a voice said behind them. "For I will do everything in my power to stop it."
Tyrande's eyes swept up to the entrance into the moonwell. Her eyes narrowed.
"Arch-Druid Staghelm. It is so rare that I see you in this place anymore."
Fandral's eyes, glowing as intensely as miniature stars, met Tyrande's, which shined as brightly as tiny moons.
And just like that, it became that much harder.
But Kira was so close.
She would not give up, not when she was so close. She steeled herself, and prepared for what might possibly become their hardest challenge yet.
Facing a Council of Elves.
Now, before you review and tell me that this chapter was boring, because I know it was, just let me tell you it was necessary. No battles, and little talking, but the background and the build up were important, in my opinion. The next chapter will be a lot better, and have much more action in it.
See what I mean when I said it's going to be different?
Hope you guys enjoy it. As always, thanks to my little brother, Nozdormi, for beta reading. I always take his help for granted, so please give him a round of applause.
Now, I've got a little Omake for you, to make up for the somewhat seriousness of this chapter. I was given the idea in a review by lokli2. Hope you enjoy it!
OMAKE: COMPLICATIONS THAT ARISE IN A NEW WORLD
Naruto stood, glaring intensely at the monstrous Scarlet Commander, Mograine. His sword was drawn; the flickering candles that lit the Cathedral reflected a dull golden light. He was ready to fight, and Mograine looked to be as well. The Scarlet Commander hefted his huge mace and glared, his eyes full of that disgusting Scarlet zeal that angered Naruto every time he saw it.
"I'm going to kick your ass right here, bastard, for what you've done," Naruto growled.
Mograine simply glared. "The Light is on my side, abomination. It is you who shall fall this day."
"Heh, then let's go!" Naruto roared, charging forwards, Magni's Pride up and ready. Mograine lifted his war mace, and took a step forwards, preparing to smash it down with all of his mighty strength.
Time seemed to slow as the neared, and it appeared to stop, mere seconds before the two weapons struck.
"…What?"
Well, time really had stopped.
"What the hell?" Naruto blurted, trying to move, but finding he couldn't.
Mograine simply sighed. "Again. This is the third time this week."
"What the hell is happening? Why can't we move?" Naruto cried, again struggling to make any part of his body twitch. Nothing worked. He seemed frozen. It could have been a lot worse. The position he was in, sword up, his legs bent and back arched, could have caused quite a bit of strain. But he felt nothing. No pain, no discomfort. Nothing.
"The servers lagging. If we're lucky, then everything will just speed up and things will continue. But it might happen…"
"It? What's it? And whaddya mean the server's lagging? What the hell is a server? And what's lagging?" Naruto wailed, glaring intensely at the Crusader.
"Don't worry about it, brat. It will be over in a few minutes…most likely. Be prepared to move very fast. Or be prepared to face it…"
"WHAT THE HELL IS IT?"
And then there was nothing.
There was just nothing. It was as if the Cathedral they had just been in was a dream, and their lives had had no meaning. There was nothing.
"What the hell just happened?" snapped Naruto's voice, from the nothing.
"Server crashed. Should be back in a few minutes, or else Blizzard's ass is grass," mumbled the nonexistent voice of Scarlet Commander Mograine.
"What the hell is wrong with this place? I hate this world! Goddammit!"
"Get used to it, abomination."
Sadly, even after the server was brought back up, Naruto's party was nowhere to be found, and for the rest of the night, he couldn't find a group to enter the SM Cath. He cursed whatever god had sent him here.
Ahh, it's happened to all of us, I'm sure.
Well, that's it. Hope you guys enjoyed it, and I promise the next one will be a lot better. Its only just begun, after all!
Seeya!
General Grievous