I hate flying!

White wings rhythmically play with nature's design. Tiny arms flick the reins of the beast beating the wind. My arms wrap round the small figure's waist as a terrible queasy feeling punches its way home.

Staring straight onward I can only see the dragging hair of the dwarf man, and the fluttering feathers of the insanely quick elegant creature. I am hoping if I focus forward I will be available to successfully control myself; alas, my stomach is not one for misguided prayers.

Ugh…You need to relax. He is far too high strung.

For some reason, unbeknownst to myself, I swing my head to the left. Tirion sits comfortably upon the wings of his beast, controlling the reins and bracing his vision like a true rider. As I stare at him, glinting sparks fall from his armored suit and draw back from his body like multiple shiny tails. Makes me…kind…of…sick…

Look away!

Flinging my head to the other side, I can see Nathanos comfortably gripping the rider with one hand. Oddly he lets his other arm stick vertically and drag with the wind. I have no idea what he is doing. You know he is trying to feel the wind between his fingers. He knows it is hard because Nathanos doesn't have skin on his hands.

Oh-no. Fleshless. Sick. Stomach…bleh…

Once again I find myself gawking half-heartedly forward. Wind slips in and out of my partially opened mouth, but I don't care. Eyelids feel heavier than normal. The whole of my body feels so…not…right. You are losing it. He is losing something else.

Maybe I should try looking down. You get that thought out of your head! HE…NOO.

Ok, ok. Let's not look down. That is probably the better option. Keep looking forward, Hope. Watch the mountaintops slip in and out of sight beneath the bird's head. Watch the beautiful scenery ahead, brown and gray littering seas of glamorous white. Watch…the giant white tree slowly coming into sight?

"What in the world is that?" I speak uncontrollably.

"What is what, Hope?" Tirion replies, and I shift my vision to him.

"The tree. Why is there is an enormous tree ahead of us?"

"A tree?" He leans forward and squints, "Oh, that tree. Ah, yes, that tree."

There is a pause.

"Go on, Fordring, tell the Worm about the pretty tree." Nathanos properly interjects. "Tell him a bed time story to calm his churning belly."

Movement stirs my attention as Nathanos shifts. The decaying jerk rotates on his mount and looks directly at me. Muscles curve at the edges of his lips.

"Isn't that right, Worm? Belly aching?"

Without saying a word to him I assault his mind with an angry expression built for destruction. He, of course, simply bats it away like always and spins back forward. Chuckles lift from his direction and float to me.

Finally I hear Tirion's voice again, "Yes, that tree belongs to the region we are quickly closing upon. Belongs to Crystalsong forest, if I am not mistaken."

He rocks and flips his reins, "I am not a master of nature or anything arcane and such, but I do know that tree is a combination of both. Not exactly certain how or why, but the tree, once a thing of splendor, now an object of magical torment."

"What?" My baffled state cannot help but interrupt.

"Well…"

His Gryphon begins to rise, and sadly, I too begin feeling the pull of an ascending bird. Reluctantly I look forward and watch as we glide across a rather elevated mountaintop. From this distance I can see tiny white animals skittering across the surface of the powdery snow.

Blocks of brown stone jut in all directions, attempting to break free of the snow, but still wearing the powdery cover like a finely fitting hat. In flash we slip over the highest point of this said wonder, and it instantly fades under the bird.

Boo, I was looking at that.

Suddenly, the gray haze that seemed to follow us every inch of the way begins to fade. As the mountain falls into the backdrop of our flight, the air seems to grow crisp and clear. My head whips upwards, and I cannot believe my eyes.

I can see the sun.

Clouds break just barely, and I know what that is it. Such a bright, indescribable beauty. The last time it shone so perfectly and so pure was back on the shores of Kalimdor. Sadly, I was only allowed to savor that treat for a short time; scourge going and drawing my attention and such.

But, like on the lands of red soil, the sun only stays for a brief duration. Clouds quickly gather and close. Black and gray puffs of teary sky merge and convene to block the bright rays. Slowly, and depressingly, they finish their sinister duty and the light fades behind walls of gray.

Boo, I was looking at that too….

"Hope, take a look at your discovery." The voice of Tirion directs me.

Without hesitating I spin, and whoa. Enormous pinkish white branches extend only yards overhead. Crystalline leaves gather and flow down the mighty stone limbs and build upon the cracking whitish pink object.

Light gathers in pockets of diamond shaped bark that build the block of the body. Chunks of white stone float from the base as if the tree shattered, yet managed to keep its whole.

I cannot help but look the tree up and down multiple times. It looks like it is made of glass, and that someone came by and smashed the base of trunk and then the bottom of the branches. It doesn't seem real. Almost like something from my dreams…

As we fly past it, masses of pink glass orbit the core that is the trunk. Branches hum loudly as we sweep past them. They almost sound as if they are trying to speak to us. Trying to gently whisper untold tales directly into our minds.

We quickly begin to pass it, when I notice two things. Firstly, a strange, gray and black object floats out of place near a branch. Secondly, I am pretty sure the trunk of the tree is hollow. You are correct. He needs to follow that strange black thing…

Focusing my vision, I watch it grow larger as we near it. Rather strange thing. It has a flat base, and strange carvings running up the side. A bulky, round curve forms as you navigate up it before it runs to two jutting spikes that extend from the sides.

I continue to look as we draw closer…

"Tirion."

I wait until I know he focused on me before saying, "What is that?"

He throws a glance to me than follows my arm. Once again he leans forward and squints. Strong eyes navigate the almost stone like structure that floats oddly upon the air. Determined inquisitive eyes drive the man to the discovery necessary.

"Oh no…"

"Enemy units detected!" A deep, dark, sinister almost mechanical voice radiates from directly overhead.

"All units activate protocol: Dark Rising."

My eyes catch sight of a gray figure looming above. I can make out the object perfectly from here. Four Large legs locked at the edges slowly glow black. The rounder curves that is its body fades to dark, while gold glistens at the waist.

Jutting spikes jerk and reveal two, massive arms that bear blades. These limbs run to shoulders covered in a fine gold armor and back to large folds of black. The same gold armor covers the head, runs around the neck and ends in the middle of the chest.

Black emerges on the front of the face, where a sundered section splits. Rows of finely crafted teeth run to two green-gemmed eyes. The same gems that lock upon me and beam to me. They call as many have before. They scream for my life. They demand…my death.

Sparks build from the risen arms at its side as the gray block base separates from the monster and falls harmlessly to the ground below. Sinister bolts of light dance perfectly from one blade to the other just passing the monster's head.

The head shifts and the eyes lock.

"Destroyer activated!" Legs whip at the side as a pair of wings shoot from its back.

It takes to flight and screeches, "Target acquired! Light Bringer extermination commencing."

Great…

Dull, yellow flashes burst from the blades. A tether gathers between the two, connecting them with a sinister, electrical fire. Air parts and flees to the assaulting mass. Death follows the borders of the misshapen mass to its destination. I grab for my weapon, but there is no way.

Suddenly a jerk grabs my body, and all reality shifts downward. A burning sensation crosses the top of my skull, and I instinctively drag towards the rider. A blurred orb spirals harmlessly overhead as we…go…down.

My eyes drag forward, and my stomach jerks upwards. Wings beat faster before stretching to a glide. We are shooting down at a horrific angle and at a terrible speed.

Ugh…

A spark ripples past my head. I spin. To my dismay I see a half a dozen monsters chasing closely behind our speeding mounts. Bladed weapons gleam as shaking legs react to moving wings.

"Hold on, lad!" The rider calls to me, and…

A swift jerk forces me frontward. The entire world shifts to my right. We shift and once again we are level. With a hard right turn we aim for the tree. The beast realigns back to normality before shifting to left.

Spark shoots past.

Jerk to the right.

Spark.

Left.

Spark.

Right.

Spark.

Ugh….

With another hard right, pinkish light fills my sight. Chunks of icy glass shoot past us in all directions. We swerve past blocks of the shattered tree smoothly and calmly. CARASH. A beast spirals out of control as it collides into a floating obstruction.

Ha!

Suddenly movement to my side draws my attention. My eyes catch sight of a swiftly moving bird to my left and a good distance away. Three or four close in behind it, but they are slowed by the barrage of arrows raining from the back of the beast.

"I thought I ended your kind years past!" Nathanos screams to the chasing destroyer sas I feel a sharp right…left…right…

"Scourge genocide is my specialty!" Arrows continue to rain, "Consider yourselves extinct!

His ride shoots up and out of sight behind blocks of white.

"Lad, pray ye'stomach don't come out'ye'bum!" Again the rider calls to me.

That is a terrible thing to hear…

A harsh right draws me back frontward. All around me pink beams into my retinas. Light radiates brightly and covers my being as we aim for a shattered hole in the base of the tree. Smaller, sharp blades of glass shoot past.

We near. Faster we travel.

"Here we go!"

Horrific force shoots through my head. It pulls down into my shoulders. It jerks at my spine and rattles my innards. Legs lock at the sides of the beast as we begin an insane vertical climb.

Air grips the edges of my face. Wind slices at my exposed flesh. The bird pulls hard and aims upward. Arching fast, I am not sure if it is going to make it! The far wall draws in close. Almost vertical. Wall is closer!

Come on!

Glass sprinkles across my legs. Pricks of pain radiate on my flesh, but I do not care. With a twist and shift to the middle we ride the heart of the hollowed tree straight upward.

We are moving at a ridiculous speed. CAHRASH, CAHRASH, CAHRASH. One, two, three destroyers slam into the base of the tree as they fail the match the move this insane rider pulled off.

Sadly, five shift properly and continue on with their pursuit. Five? Wait…where did five come from?! You gained friends. He is popular amongst the scourge. We barrel for the top end and aim for our exit.

Unexpectedly black objects appear at the top of the trunk. Three or four more beasts shoot downwards at us. Skilled riding glides us between shots, but this not good. You said it. He needs to step up to plate.

"Lad, I don't know how we are gonna beat this one."

I reach back, pull the trusty shovel off my back and flip it over the rider's shoulder.

"Shovel, lad?" He carefully reaches down, pulls a canteen from a small pouch and quickly inhales the fluid.

Letting the canteen drop he speaks, "With that there liquid, anything is possible!"

He points forward, "Give thessh monshters a s-shoveling!"

With a smile on my face, and a thought in my head, I let the blade glow and the weapon hum.

Flash.

Energy courses upwards. Slivers of glass are torn from the bark as it travels. Chunks tear into the core. Each passing second the orb grows larger. Each second it is fed. Each second is given power for nature itself.

Explosion.

Light rains down. It illuminates and consumes all darkness. It blinds all sight. Bits of black float past as we near the collision point. Warm sensation dances over our flesh as we whip through the pocket of loitering light.

In a flash we burst from the top of the tree.

With a hard, rather sloppy tug we jerk from the vertical ascension and glide back to a flat level of play. Finally, that was giving my legs a work out. You need more exercise. He needs to run more.

Still traveling at a breakneck speed, we shoot past the branches and in moments leave the beautiful tree behind. Of course, we do not do so without giving the tree a mark to remember us by. You blew a chunk out of that thing. He gave it a haircut!

A sudden jerk draws me back to reality. Spark.

We aim for another set of mountains as we continue on. Behind are still four angry destroyers with the intent to bring justice to their name. Suddenly a bright, coned arch of holy power tears through two. Before they can splinter and fall, Tirion and his ride whip past.

Smoothly he pulls beside me and points towards the mountains. "There, that is our destination!"

My eyes focus with the rising horizon of piney, rising stone, but do not stay their long.

I twist back to see a large pack of rather enraged foes. It would seem that the monsters falling Tirion took the place of the fallen. Sparks soar past us. Orbs of destructive energy barrel past our heads. Unfortunately for them, we have grown comfortable with their slow barrage.

"How many are there or you, you stupid flying centaurs?!" Nathanos' voice travels as we draws towards. He flies parallel to us, but is a distance away.

A jerk pulls me frontward, and I gawk as we fly over the cliff. Sparks rain harder and more frequently. The bird tries to glide between them all, but there are so many. A sudden burning sensation ripples from my leg.

Bits of a spark grab the flesh, but fortunately glides past. It didn't take my leg, but it sure didn't leave me wanting more. You think that hurts! He knows it does!

Enough of this!

Spinning, I draw my shovel to them. Sparks shoot past my head. They skim past my limbs. They burn my flesh and heat my armor. Focus, Hope, focus. Light builds at the tip of the spade. Humming radiates forth.

Suddenly, unexpectedly, they stop. As we continue ascending, the winged beasts slow and stop. Ahha! I would be afraid of me, too. You saw what I did to your friends back there! You better not get too cocky. He wasn't alone on this one.

Before I can even move, an object appears overhead. Emerging in my vision is a large bird. Long, white wings glide the beast across the skies. This bird resembles the Gryphon that I ride, but this beast is solid white, and the rider wears no saddle.

In flash it shoots by. Following fast are a dozen more. Quickly they near the darkened foes. Oddly, the scourge units turn and begin fleeing. That is disappointing. They were not afraid of me after all…You will have a chance to be scary. He will.

At least that chase is over…

My body repositions properly ahead just as we begin our descent. Wings slow and begin gliding as we circle a strange sight. Tiny, dwarfen men scurry across the surface of small chasm. White birds rest on perches on various locations, and riders rush to their backs.

Hundreds of men align at the bottom of the chasm. It would seem that they are preparing for something. Quickly we make one last circle above before our descension. Tirion lands first at the edge of the chasm, and we follow quickly after. Nathanos is last this time.

Hurriedly Tirion jumps from his mount and makes his way to a short path. He slows as he nears a rather large dwarf nestled near an iron throne built into the side of an ice wall. The dwarf clad in solid blue armor leaps forward and throws his arms into the air with excitement.

"Lord Fordring, lad! Where'ye been!" He leaps from the throne and rushes to meet Tirion half way.

"Yorg, good sir, I have been spreading the light to the corners of the planet."

"And ye'couldn't find time for good'ol Yorg?" He gives Tirion a rather firm handshake, before Tirion pulls down and gives a firm man-hug to the dwarf.

Tirion laughs as he comes to his feet. "I am here now, aren't I?"

"Yes, lad." He pauses to look at us, "Who are'ye friends, Tirion?"

The old man points, but the dwarf breaks and heads straight to me. "My word, is that…?"

He comes to my legs and looks to me, "By the might of frost, ye'are the Light Bringer."

His hand rises to me. "An honor, lad, an honor."

I look down at his hand and oddly reach for it. As his fingers wrap with mine, I cannot help but think of what he said. Light Bringer? The destroyer called me that. The dwarf…Tirion…

Looks like I am better known than I thought…