The Earth-Warder's Battle
He waited at the portal, waiting for any sort of sign of Thrall's return. He wanted answers from Thrall. Most importantly, he wanted answers from the Earth-Warder. Upon hearing about Ultraxion, Garrosh began to loose faith in the Black Aspect even more. Not that he had faith in him in the first place. He never trusted Neltharion because of what Deathwing had done to Durotar, but upon Neltharion's redemption, he could not put his faith in a creature who caused so much suffering. He laughed at King Varian's blind faith to welcome Neltharion to the Alliance. He knew that sooner or later the Black Dragon will spit upon his and the Alliance's faces and he could not wait until that happened. But Neltharion chose to live in Kalimdor, next door to the Horde. Varian did not have to deal with him, Varian did not have to see him flying around the Barrens.
Garrosh snorted.
Neltharion had lied.
The portal fluctuated, indicating that someone was about to appear through it. A black clawed foot stepped out of the portal. That was not Thrall! The black claw was followed by a black, horned, draconic head. Along the dragon's neck were a line of elementium plates. Garrosh's hands clinched into tight fists. Neltharion, not Thrall, came through the portal.
"Perfect!" he called. "I wanted to hear it from Thrall, but I'll hear it from the Aspect's mouth himself!" He pointed at Neltharion. "Deathwing!"
As Neltharion came through, he paused when he heard that horrible name being called instead of his true one. He turned to the current Warchief of the Horde, his green eyes wide.
"Garrosh?" Neltharion asked.
Garros rose his great axe in challenge to the Black Aspect.
"I want answers!" Garrosh shouted. "And you better give them to me."
"I don't have time to play, Garrosh," said Neltharion. "I have to go to the Twilight Highlands. There's something important I must take care of and I'm running out of time."
"And what could that be?" asked Garrosh as he approached Neltharion. "Could it be a twilight dragon named Ultraxion?"
"Who told you that?" he asked.
"One of your dragons," said Garrosh. "Well, tell me, why haven't you said anything about this weapon of yours?"
"I...I..don't have any time to discuss this," said Neltharion. He walked towards the portal to the Twilight Highlands. "I have business to take care of."
"Going to help your Cult friends?" asked Garrosh. "You may have fooled Thrall and Varian, but you won't fool me, Deathwing! I know what you are planning."
"Don't call me Deathwing," said Neltharion. "And I'm not planning anything!"
"Liar!" bellowed Garrosh. He gripped his axe and positioned himself between Neltharion and the portal. "You want through the portal, Worldbreaker, you have to go through me."
"Garrosh, you are being unreasonable!" called Neltharion. "I have a duty to preform, I have to kill Ultraxion!"
"Don't lie, Deathwing," said Garrosh. He stood ready to take on Neltharion.
"Garrosh, don't fight me," said Neltharion. "I may be weakened, but I'm still powerful enough to break every bone in your body. I don't think the Horde would appreciate a quadriplegic Warchief."
"And by doing so, you'll set yourself up to look even worse among the Horde," said Garrosh. "Do you really want that, Mr. I wish to be friend with everyone...?"
"I didn't say I would kill you," said Neltharion. "But I'll make sure you have to be spoon-fed for the rest of your life! Now step aside!"
"Never," said Garrosh, giving a sneer to the dragon. "Come on, Deathwing, I'll add your head to the pike that Nefarian's head stands upon as well."
Neltharion growled dipping his head low, his eyes flashing with ferocity.
"Very well," he began as he charged fro Garrosh and the portal. "Try and take it!"
He leapt upon the body of Garrosh and pushed him through the portal as well. The two rivals tumbled out onto the ground on the other side of the portal. They rolled around, both gripping each other's necks. Neltharion and Garrosh, much to the surprised warlocks keeping the portal up, rolled out the door into the middle of the Dragonmaw Port. Neltharion slammed the large, muscular orc down onto the grayish ground.
"Say it again, orc, say it again!" he bellowed.
"Which one?" Garrosh asked. "Deathwing or the fact that I have your son's head on display in the Valley of Strength."
Curling his claws into fists, Neltharion proceeded to punch Garrosh repeatedly in the jaw. Garrosh gripped the golden chain that the Black Dragon wore upon his neck and snapped it. He tossed the medallion away. The disk rolled off, ending up right next to the feet of Zaeda, the Warlord of the Dragonmaw. She knelt down and picked up the chain, staring at the golden disk.
"This can't be..." she began, sensing the strange, dark energies emanating from it. She looked up, hearing the other orcs cheer as the dragon and the Warchief continued to wrestle each other.
"I will slay you, dragon!" called Garrosh.
"Not before I break every bone in your body!" Neltharion bellowed.
Garrosh kicked his foot right between the Earth-Warder's legs. Neltharion's eyes bulged out and he growled from the pain and fell over onto the ground. Garrosh moved out from underneath the dragon as Neltharion curled up, his face grimacing in pain. The Warchief rose up to his feet and dusted himself off.
"Pathetic," he said. "We were afraid of you?"
Neltharion, feeling the pain subside slightly, raised a fist up and slammed it upon the ground. The ground quaked slightly and cracked and splintered. Garrosh felt his feet give way and he toppled over onto his back. Neltharion rose up from the ground, breathing heavily. As he slowly approached the Warchief, he rose up his claw again, ready to strike.
"Think you're so smart for...kicking me..." Neltharion started to say.
"Hold it!" called Zaeda. "Blood's Shadow!"
Neltharion looked up to the gray-skinned orc as she raised the golden disk up.
"Made another Dragon Soul too?" she asked. "As if that giant Twilight Dragon didn't keep you busy enough, Deathwing."
"A what?" Garrosh asked as he looked back at Zaeda. He then turned back to Neltharion, his golden eyes wide.
Neltharion reached to his neck, gripping it in realization he did not have it around his neck. He approached Zaeda, slamming a fist into Garrosh's stomach as he passed. The Warchief let loose a grunt and fell limp. He held out his claw.
"Give that back," he said.
"Still desire it?" she asked. "Like you did before?"
"I don't desire it," said Neltharion. "But I do need it."
"For what?" asked Zaeda.
"To stop the Hour of Twilight," said Neltharion. "Now would you mind giving me that back and just stand aside? I made Ultraxion, I have to destroy him!"
He approached her reaching out for the Dragon Soul. Zaeda pulled the disk away, placing it behind her back.
"No..." she said.
Garrosh rose up onto his feet, holding his stomach.
"That disk is the Dragon Soul?" he asked. "That thing is supposed to be destroyed."
"It is destroyed," said Neltharion.
"You made another," said Zaeda. "Never thought you had it in you to make another."
"No, I didn't," said Neltharion. "I don't have time to explain it to you mortals. Just give me the disk back, let me go handle Ultraxion, and then I will tell you everything!"
Zaeda held on tightly to the disk. The Black Aspect sighed.
"Fine, keep it if it makes you feel better," he said. "When I'm done destroying that monstrosity I made, I'll be back for the Dragon Soul."
Neltharion began to spread his wings, about to take to the sky. Garrosh rushed him, leapt into the air and knocked him down, pinning the Earth-Warder's wings to his side.
"What the hell are you doing?" Neltharion bellowed.
Garrosh grabbed one of the dragon's horns and pulled his head back. Neltharion bellowed, his tail flailing behind him. Then, the Earth-Warder growled, diving into the ground, his body becoming apart of it. Garrosh slammed to the ground scrambling around the dirt, hoping that whatever part of the ground the Earth-Warder belonged to, he would grab it.
"I want answers, Deathwing!" he called as he rose up upon his feet.
"Don't call me Deathwing, mortal!" Neltharion bellowed, the ground beneath Garrosh trembled violently. Suddenly, a rocky, massive fist jutted forth from the ground, upper-cutting Garrosh in the jaw. Garrosh was sent flying towards the main building of the port, slamming right into the wall. He fell hard upon the ground as Neltharion's black, enormous form took shape from rock below. Just as he took shape, Thrall, Calia, Aggra, Siderion, Nadina, and Ysera came through the portal. Neltharion slammed his claw down upon Garrosh.
"What in the name of the Light is going on?" Calia cried.
"Those two really don't like each other," said Ysera, cocking her head up at Neltharion.
Calia turned to Ysera: "Do you mind stopping your brother before he squishes Garrosh? As much as I'd love to see Garrosh flattened..."
"He must have called Nel 'Deathwing'," said Ysera with a shrug.
"Just go stop him!"
Garrosh raised his axe and sliced it down upon Neltharion's paw, tearing a gash in his black scales. The pain stung, but it was nothing more than a mosquito bite to the dragon. However, it was enough to make Neltharion jerk up and he removed his claw.
"Neltharion!" Ysera called as she walked towards the middle of their fighting. "Stop! Stop!"
Neltharion growled, ignoring his sister's pleas. He leaned down and snatched Garrosh up into his jaws. Thrall's eyes grew wide. Calia pulled her pistol out and fired it into the air, gaining the attention of the entire port. Neltharion, who had yet to swallow Garrosh, looked around, suddenly snapped out of his rage.
"SPIT HIM OUT NOW!" Calia called.
Neltharion grunted.
"NOW, YOU DUMB-ASS!" Calia shouted again.
Neltharion growled and leaned down to the ground. He coughed up Garrosh in a puddle of sulfuric-smelling spittle. The Warchief rose up, wiping his face off, coughing.
"Garrosh!" called Thrall. He looked back at Neltharion and then to Garrosh again. "Are you alright?"
"Never thought I'd see the inside of the Death Aspect's mouth," said Garrosh. "Smelliest thing I've ever had the chance to smell." He looked to Neltharion. "You ever heard of mouthwash?"
Neltharion's lips pulled back into a snarl and he growled deeply.
"Stop!" called Calia. "Just stop." She turned to Garrosh, raising her hands up to both of them. "The both of you stop!" Calia panted, her face flushed. "You want me to be neutral, Nel? Here's neutral. As much as I want to see you either imprisoned or dead, Garrosh, we have bigger problems right now than you and the Earth-Warder's petty squabbles. I don't know what is between you two, I don't know why you two are at each other's throat, but put it aside!"
She then saw a flash of gold coming from Zaeda and found her holding the Dragon Soul.
"Give that back to Neltharion," she said. "Now!"
"Do you have any idea what this is, human?" asked Zaeda.
"Yeah, I do," said Calia.
"Why does he have it then?" asked Zaeda.
"Because Nozdormu went back in time with Thrall to retrieve it," said Calia. "That's why."
"And he stole it!" said Garrosh.
"No," said Neltharion. "They gave it to me to take care of it."
"Is this true, Go'el?" asked Garrosh.
"Yes," said Thrall. "It is. Zaeda, I suggest you give that back to Neltharion."
"Has the Time Lord lost his mind?" asked Zaeda. "Deathwing is the one who made it."
"Neltharion..." Neltharion said with a growl. "My name is Neltharion!"
"Give it back to him," said Thrall. "If you don't mind. He's the only one who can use it properly."
"Very well," said Zaeda. She walked over to the Black Aspect and set the golden disk down before his massive paws. Neltharion raised a paw up and as if upon command, the Dragon Soul floated to it, suspending itself just above his palm. He looked to it, seeing the colors of energy flowing around it, red, blue, green, and orange, with only the purple...his color...binding the other four together. Then, with his will, Neltharion guided the Dragon Soul down to Calia.
"Keep it safe," he said to her in a low rumble. Calia reached up and took the disk, placing it into her pouch.
"I'll have to have the chain fixed," she said.
Neltharion gave a slight nod. He looked to the sky, hearing the rumble of thunder and the flicker of lightning. The clouds were churning, echoing a strange, yet familiar energy to him. Off in the distance, he saw looming tall was the Twilight Citadel. Neltharion swallowed hard and faced the spire. His massive form leapt into the sky as lightning flashed.
"Neltharion!" called Calia. "Come back here!"
"So, tell me, has he come to see his project finished?" asked Garrosh.
"Garrosh, you know better than that!" called Thrall. "You know he's changed. Neltharion didn't come here to make sure Ultraxion is finished, he has come to defeat him. He doesn't want the Hour of Twilight to happen anymore than any of us."
Ysera blankly stared upon the spire in the distance. Her eyes blinked and her throat felt dry.
"What is that horrible energy that I feel?" she asked. "What is that darkness?"
"That is Ultraxion," said Nadina.
"Neltharion can't defeat that energy..." said Ysera, looking back at the Blood Elf. "He's not..."
"Not strong enough yet?" asked Calia. "What do you think I've been saying this whole time?"
"Neltharion cannot, but I bet Deathwing could," said Thrall. "Neltharion is not empowered by the Old Gods anymore. Deathwing, when he made this Ultraxion, he was empowered by the Old Gods to do it." He looked to Ysera. "If there's any help you can call, Dreamer, call them now!"
Ysera nodded and raised her hands to the sky. Sparkling energy of green and leaves fell about her as she began her summoning. There was the Vermilion Redoubt not far from here. If anyone could hear her, it be the red dragons there. She sent her message there, telling them to bring Alexstrasza with them. She knew that when Alexstrasza will hear her message, she would bring Kalecgos as well. Four Aspects against this evil was better than just two.
0
Neltharion was suddenly struck from the sky as a massive wave of dark energy impacted upon him. The energy was powerful enough to loosen one of his elementium plates from his spine and his fiery blood irrupted from the holes made into his flesh. Neltharion dropped from the sky and he fell upon the strange, purple and black earth rolling several leagues from impact. He rolled upon his back, his lava-like blood spilling into a pool behind him. Neltharion rose up and reached back to the loosen plate, attempting to drive it back into place.
"Is your armor coming off, father?" came a voice filled with crackling energy in its tone.
The Earth-Warder sensed a growing darkness descending upon him and he felt his body shiver. He snapped the plate back into place and looked around as the world around him began to dim.
"You are still coming apart, father," said the voice. "You should have never left us. We could have fashioned you better armor."
"Left you?" Neltharion asked as he swung around at the sound of the voice. He hunted for where the voice was coming from. He looked up to see the glow of the Twilight Citadel. "Left you? I betrayed my duty, my creators."
"I know you are here to destroy me, father," said the voice. "Why would you destroy the greatest of your children?"
"My children are black dragons!" Neltharion growled. "Not these bastardized monstrosities Deathwing created."
"Why betray the plan, father? Why betray the truth? You're lying to yourself, siding with the other Aspects. You know the truth of this world, you've always known. You were just aiding those who are the true masters. They would free you from your chains the Titans imposed upon you."
"Chains?" he asked.
Neltharion felt a mighty blow to his jaw and he was sent flying back against the cliff of black crystalline rocks. He saw a strange, crackling glow of cyan energy as he attempted to raise his head. A dark purple body, a body as massive as his if not more rising up.
"Ultraxion," said Neltharion, his eyes focusing upon the enormous twilight dragon. Dark energy flowed out from points encircling him. Neltharion looked around noticing they were energy coming from netherwing drakes either dead or dying. He panted hard, scooting himself backwards. The Earth-Warder pressed his back against the wall of a cliff as the shadow of Ultraxion fell upon him. The energy flowing into him ceased and Ultraxion slowly began to approach his father.
"I am only here to help you, father," said Ultraxion. "Help free you from your pained existence."
"My existence isn't pained!" said Neltharion. He rose upon his feet and reared back upon his hind legs. Ultraxion roared, rearing back onto his hind legs as well. The two dragons collided, clawing each other's heads. Neltharion swatted a gash into Ultraxion's cheek only for the twilight dragon to return the punch. Ultraxion scraped hard across Neltharion's neck, slashing a large, glowing gash into his black scales. Magma-like blood irrupted from the wound. Neltharion roared and latched upon Ultraxion's neck, pulling the twilight dragon down. Ultraxion's left wing batted the Black Aspect away and Neltharion tore a chunk of his son's flesh into his teeth. The twilight dragon roared out in pain and Neltharion spat the flesh from his mouth. His teeth were stained with Ultraxion's blood. He stumbled forward slightly, panting.
"You're so weak, father," said Ultraxion. "Give it up. You are only delaying the inevitable."
"No..." said Neltharion.
Ultraxion rose into the air, his body sparking with energy. Neltharion got to his feet, shaking violently. He spread his wings and launched into the air. He felt the furor of his anger rise inside of him as he raced after the twilight dragon. He allowed his body to ignite in searing flames and black smoke, unleashing the fiery power he hid deep inside. As Neltharion flapped his wings, the black ash and fire blanketed the Twilight Highlands. The Twilight Hammers' stations were set alight.
"I will burn you!" Neltharion bellowed.
"All talk and display, father," said Ultraxion. "Your words hold no weight. You're a joke."
Ultraxion folded his wings slightly and arched backwards, diving for his inflamed, furious creator. Neltharion's green eyes widened as he watched the monster dive for him. Backwinging swiftly, he righted himself and his claws were outstretched. He caught Ultraxion in mid dive, latching his sharp claws deep into the twilight dragon's scales. The two began to spiral into a flailing fall, wings flapping out of control. Ultraxion coughed, the black, hot smoke choking him. Neltharion grunted, his eyes lit up bright orange. Letting go with one claw, he reached into his own chest and dug deep into the scales.
"You want to know what real pain is?" Neltharion asked. "Feel the Heart of Azeroth sear your flesh!"
He ripped open his own chest, revealing the molten, boiling, glowing core inside. Neltharion pressed his chest up to Ultraxion.
"Feel this world's fiery core as it rages on inside of me," said Neltharion. "My pain? Or is it my strength?"
Ultraxion let loose a bellowing roar as he felt his chest burn black from the magma inside of Neltharion's chest. He took hold of the Earth-Warder's shoulders, trying to push him away. His flesh continued to sear from the heat. How could Neltharion survive such heat? How could he live with a form that was filled with nothing but molten magma? Khaz'Goroth had made the Earth-Warder's insides from the very core itself. Then, Ultraxion's eyes began to focus and his own power raged forth from his body. He looked beyond Neltharion to see the ground rushing quickly towards him. Then, he bellowed out as the cyan energy built up around him.
"Now, feel my gift you have given me, father!" Ultraxion called. Despite the searing pain, the twilight dragon gripped Neltharion and swung his body around. He tore the Earth-Warder's grip from him, sending the Black Aspect racing for the ground itself as the energy building up around him struck Neltharion. The energy sparked all around Neltharion's scales and he felt his power being zapped. He bellowed out as he felt his body grow numb. Neltharion landed hard upon the scorched earth, scraping a long chasm across the highlands with his great fall. Bones broke upon impact, his wings shattered. His beard covered in dirt. A cloud of soot, ash, and dirt rose up around him. Ultraxion landed, panting heavily, his tongue rolled out between his fangs. He licked his scaly lips, and then reared back upon his haunches. He gathered up an orb of dark energy into his foreclaws.
"Time to end your misery, father," he said. "With your death comes the release of our masters. It is what you would have wanted..."
Just as Ultraxion was about to shoot the dark energy forth, a blast of fire knocked him to his side. Ultraxion rose up, shaking off the dirt from his scales. He looked on as he saw four rather large shadows fly towards him, followed by much smaller shadows. Ultraxion concentrated again, gathering up his dark energy into his claws. As he was about to move, ready to send forth the energy towards his attackers, Ultraxion froze. He not only froze, but it seemed the world around him did as well. The four shadows landed along with their companions. Out from the darkness came Alexstrasza, the Life-binder. Beside her was Kalecgos, the Spell-Weaver. On her other side was Ysera, the Awakened Dreamer, and beside her was Nozdormu, the Lord of Time. Landing right next to him was a smaller black dragon, Siderion. Upon his back were Thrall, Aggra, Nadina, and Calia. Nozdormu held out a claw, golden waves of sand flowing out from it.
"I don't know how long I can hold it," he said. "Get our brother out of here, quickly, Alexstrasza."
Alexstrasza and Kalecgos approached the still form of Neltharion. She looked upon his form, her golden eyes widened. He was bent in an awkward position, his wings twisted and turned in all directions. Even his membranes were torn beyond the ability to fly. Calia looked upon the broken form of her husband and held her breath.
"Neltharion!" she called.
"Alexstrasza, is he dead?" Thrall asked.
"No," she replied. "But he's barely clinging onto life as it is. If we hadn't gotten here sooner, he might as well be."
Kalecgos reached for Neltharion, but the heat coming from his body was too much. He looked back at Alexstrasza and shook his crystalline head.
"I can't touch him!" he said. "The lava, it's everywhere."
"Can you cool him?" asked Alexstrasza.
"I can try," said Kalecgos. The Blue Aspect backed up a ways and took in a deep breath. Then, with one, powerful exhale, he sent forth an icy wind upon Neltharion's body. The Earth-Warder's body steamed as the temperature suddenly changed. His outer shell cooled slightly, enough for Kalecgos to take hold of him. The Spell-Weaver leaned down and picked up the much more massive form of the Earth-Warder, trying to lift him up. "I don't think we should move him with the broken bones."
"I can fix those," said Alexstrasza. "Just get him out of here, Kalec!"
Nozdormu looked around, taking note that the world began to move slowly. Ultraxion began to move as well. His hold upon time was loosening.
"We mussst move now!" he called. "We have no time."
Kalecgos and Ysera took hold of Neltharion's body, lifting it up together. Then, all three of them vanished. Alexstrasza took flight followed by her dragons and Siderion. Nozdormu dismissed his hold upon time and Ultraxion fired his beam. The Time Lord rose up into the air just as the beam raced by him. Upon his brazen face was a smirk. Ultraxion looked up at the Time Lord and smirked as well.
"Even you cannot deny your fate as well, Murozond," he said.
"We will ssssee in time," said Nozdormu.
With that, Nozdormu vanished. Ultraxion looked back towards the Twilight Citadel. As if by a silent command, he started walking for it. Approaching, he looked up upon the rocky platform where the gate stood. Standing on the platform was a two-headed ogre. Cho'Gall had watched the fight.
"The Aspects know how hard we can hit them," said Cho.
"Hit them really hard!" squawked Gall.
"They are afraid now," said Cho. "Not even Deathwing can defeat you."
"No Old Gods to power him, he's weak!" said Gall. "Weak!"
"I do not know where they've taken him," said Ultraxion.
"It does not matter," said Cho. "He will rise up again to try and face us."
"Fail he will!" said Gall.
"They may have taken him back to Wyrmrest Temper," said Cho. "Either way, that is the place we must go next. We must take on Wyrmrest and tear it down."
"The Aspects will have no safe haven to hide!" said Gall.
Ultraxion nodded and rumbled. He spread his great wings and launched into the air. With him came several twilight dragons and drakes, following him north.
"Divide and conquer," said Cho. He turned back for the portal to enter it.