Disclaimer: All things from the WCIII campaign finding of Durotar belong to Blizzard Entertainment, and all other personnel involved. I simply used it to further Jaina's pain along.
Blast from the Past
With a feeling like being sucked through a vacuum, the portal spit the duo out on the land of the Nathrezim. It was a planet shrouded in mystery as no one really knew of it's existence, and if they had happened upon it, they were no longer living to tell others about it. The legends that Jaina did know about, the people of Xoroth had not joined the Legion willingly, but as a show of their dominance the Burning Legion destroyed another planet right before the civilizations eyes. Soon, sometime after their planet of Nathreza had been destroyed, it was rumored the Nathrezim moved their citadel to what remained of Xoroth.
The moment Jaina's feet touched the ground, the heat that surrounded them threatened to choke her. Never before in Azeroth had she experienced weather so hot and humid. Her robes stuck to her and placed unneeded pressure on her body. It seemed as if this particular planet was closer to the sun than any other, and the makeup of the land represented that.
All of the land beneath her feet was a tainted gray ashy color with what appeared to be lines of red molten magma flowing through it. Not an ounce of foliage was anywhere for miles around, the only difference in the land were the ashy hills, volcanoes, and geysers that were actively spouting even more magma into the air. To Jaina it seemed as if the very land around her was dying, and the planet itself was helping it along all the faster.
She peered up at the sky, and although the sun was bright and bearing down on her, the dust that was being thrown around everywhere, made a dark cover all around them. She placed her hand over her nose and mouth hoping that she wouldn't inhale too much. How do I even know if the Nathrezim are here? How do I know if they'll help me? Maybe this damn lich just brought me here to die.
"This way, Lady Proudmoore," Kel'Thuzad spoke. As he began to move, she made sure to stay close to the flowing tails that were his lower body. She knew nothing about this land, and it was becoming more and more difficult to see, therefore she didn't want to get separated. Determined, they crept ahead, and as they moved along Jaina began to make out more and more thing in the ground beneath them. There was ash and magma, but there also appeared to be bones, and as they moved on and on she noticed different shapes of skulls and other skeletal features from creatures she had no idea if people even knew existed that were part of the ground they were walking on.
"Kel'Thuzad, what happened here?" she asked, coughing as she inhaled some of the ash around her.
"Dear girl, it's best if you don't speak. This land has seen more things than you can ever possibly understand and trying to will only leave you with more questions," he answered.
Jaina nodded and continued to try and breathe through her hand. I'm gonna die from all this inhalation of ash before we even get to his master. I'll die and the Horde will have finally taken every last thing from me including my life.
"Do not fool yourself. You and I both know you're not simply here for the Horde," Kel'Thuzad divulged. "Yes I'm still listening to your thoughts. You can never trust one too much. Plus it's not as if you can speak without inhaling even more ash and probably dying before we even reach our destination."
What the hell are you talking about? The only reason I'm here, the only reason I'm with you is because you promised to give me the power to destroy the Horde!
A chuckle echoed from the lich as they continued to move along. "No. That's not the only reason," he declared. "You wouldn't need me if all you wanted to do was destroy the Horde. Your precious dragon Kalecgos could have helped you with that if it's really want you wanted. Simply get him to give you the Focusing Iris, and you could have crushed Orgimmar beneath your power. It's not that simple, though is it?"
It wouldn't have been enough! He probably wouldn't have even given it to me! What are you getting at?
"Wouldn't have been enough? One of the most powerful magical items in all of Azeroth, something so strong it's protected by the blue dragonflight, wouldn't have been all you needed to destroy a faction? Do you know how absolutely ridiculous you sound?" Kel'Thuzad proclaimed. "We both know how incredibly talented and smart you are. The Focusing Iris would have been a gold mine for you, but no you chose to take up my counsel, just as I figured you would. That's because, Jaina, there is a darkness inside you now."
A darkness? What are you talking about? Do you think I'm some Arthas redux?
"Arthas redux? Don't flatter yourself, girl. That boy was gone a long time ago. He was born dark and hoped that becoming a paladin and falling in love with a 'beautiful' girl would help him seek the right path. We both know how that story ended," the lich explained. "You've always been pure, but now there's a seed of darkness inside of you. A seed which you yourself planted."
I would never! The Horde taking everything dear to me, losing both men I love, if anything that caused it.
"Silly girl, they didn't cause it. The entirety of your life was about preserving things and keeping peace. Jaina Proudmoore, you were pure; however, your need for vengeance and revenge started to consume you. Now they have. That is what planted the seed, and there's no getting rid of it now. It will only grow and grow with each passing decision until it finally consumes you whole. I recommend doing yourself a favor and simply giving in and letting it take you sooner instead of fighting it," he revealed.
Jaina's heart should have dropped. She should have felt nervous with the information the lich had just disclosed to her, but she didn't. In fact, she didn't feel anything different than she had when they arrived on Xoroth. This was partially in fact that she knew he was telling the truth. The moment Garrosh bombed her home something had snapped inside her, and all she wanted to do was destroy the Horde. As she became more and more enveloped by it, it felt as if there was almost another being inside of her. In her mind there was her, and a darker her that was out for blood and ever so slowly the other her was reaching out and encompassing her mind until all she could think about was killing.
Could she fight this? Is this really what she wanted or was it simply that "darkness" inside of her talking? Or should she do as Kel'Thuzad had informed and simply give into it and not fight it? Perhaps succumbing to it would enable her to quickly destroy that which had taken everything from her...
Instantly she snapped out of the cloud that was overcoming her mind. It was an affirmation that Kel'Thuzad's tale had been a true one. There was something wrong inside of her and with each passing moment it grew stronger. This wasn't who she was. She was letting revenge, vengeance, and hate overtake her entire being and shape her into something she never would have dreamed of being. I don't want to be here. I don't need to be here.
"It's a bit late for doubting yourself, sorceress," Kel'Thuzad stated. When he spoke, she realized why it was too late for her. Before them stood their destination, and it terrified her. The very fortress had been carved out of the mountain, it's three distinct towers made of the very rock but blackened by the magma and ash flying around. What seemed like thousands of bodies laid scattered about in front of the building as well as hanging from the towers themselves. The only entrance was a dark archway that seemed to lead only into an abyss.
She breathed in more ash as she took a deep breath, her nerves getting the best of her. I don't think I want to enter anymore. As the thought crossed her mind, another invaded it. The Horde must pay for everything they've done. I have to be the one to crush them beneath my magic. The other thought startled Jaina, but it seemed to pull her towards entering the fortress.
"Welcome, Lady Proudmoore, to the Forgotten Citadel, Home of the Nathrezim," Kel'Thuzad introduced.
Bright light surrounded them and disappeared as they landed upon the stone ground. Barrels and boxes appeared to block other entrances into the courtyard other than the enormous steel grated gate in front of them. Behind them was a seat carved into the concrete wall (that Jaina still had no idea why her masons had made) as well as two torches that lit up the area around them.
As her eyes adjusted to the regular light around them, Jaina eyed her two companions. One was what she would consider a giant. He towered above her, his muscular physique a combination of both the brutish orcs and the enormous ogres. It was a tan color, but the tattoos that covered his triceps looked like claw marks were a darker brown. He wore bone armor on his shoulders and wrists as well as part of his belt, while the rest of his armor (consisting of boots and gloves) were some type of animal skin. He called himself Rexxar as far as Jaina remember and was a Mok'nathal which was a being that was half-ogre and half-orc.
Their companion was the exact opposite of Rexxar. He was far skinnier, but just as tall as the other. His skin was a cerulean color, but matched the armor that he wore on his shoulders, and knees, each one looking distinctively like a tiki mask. His white hair that stood in a solid braid above his head matched both his incredibly long white beard, and the ivory tusks that jutted from his jaw. Jaina knew this trolls name was Rokhan, and he was an ambassador of the Darkspear tribe.
She spoke directly to Rexxar, "Hopefully we've made it in time. You've got to get word back to Thrall that-"
The mok'nathal's face scrunched and a look of anger flashed across it. He growled in his deep voice, "I don't understand. What's this all about?" The messenger didn't particularly enjoy being teleported from place to place as he questioned her about why her men were attacking the now developing home of the orcs, a place they called Durotar.
The sorceress ran past her companions and stood closer to the gate. Fear gripped her heart tight like a vice grip. "Those marines, I know who they are, Rexxar. They're-" she explained. A loud ringing of bells and cheer seemed to emanate from all over the area. While they could see no people around, whoever they were, they were excited by the arrival of someone. The noise was deafening, but almost all at once Jaina was wrapped in silence.
Years had past since she had last seen him. So much in the world had changed, hell, even she had changed. How in the world would she explain to him everything that had happened? Her gut felt empty and panic set in. Nerves froze her to the spot she was standing in. "It's too late. He's here."
Time continued to slow and slow until Jaina believed that it had stopped altogether. She heard ships pulling up to dock right outside the closed gate. She heard the clattering of armor, swords, and horses as men climbed off the boats. With each passing moment she became more and more nauseous. Vomit threatened to climb from her throat any minute as she waited for the inevitable to happen. Please don't let me be right.
All at once the gates busted open and there stood a man that she would have known no matter how much time had passed. He looked almost identical as when he had left in his sea green overcoat with the anchor emblem engraved in it, with his white stockings and the half-circle shaped hat on his head. The only change was that his once long brown hair and beard were now a bright silver color that seemed to dance in the dimming sunlight and light of the torches behind her.
He ran forward, the saber in his hand moving back and forth, until he was a few feet from her. The look of pure joy on his face moved her. After so long he was finally back, but nothing was the same. The man's words came out as if in whispers, as if he couldn't believe what he was seeing. "Jaina. Bless the stars, I've found you at last! When I heard that Lordaeron fell, I despaired. But I knew you'd find a way to escape. I-" his words caught in his throat as his eyes laid sight upon the Mok'nathal and troll that stood behind Jaina. "What is this?" he exclaimed. "An ogre?"
Panic drenched her, and she pleaded, "Father, wait!"
Rexxar almost fell over from the revelation. It was Jaina Proudmoore's father that had been jeopardizing the safety of the Horde. "Father?" he gasped.
Jaina could sense the surprise in Rexxar's voice, and the betrayal. She knew she had to fix this and quick. She explained, "The Horde is no longer our enemy! The orcs have their own kingdom now. We-"
"You have always been naive, my daughter. You aren't old enough to remember what these monsters did to our homeland," Daelin breathed. Jaina tried to interject, but he continued, "The orcs and their kin cannot be trusted. They must be exterminated like the mongrels they are!" As he spoke, more and more armor-clad Kul'Tiran knights and foot soldiers lined up around her father preparing to attack.
Her mind raced for a solution the problem she found herself in. She couldn't fight her father's men, but she also couldn't let her father attack Rexxar and Rokhan and continue the slaughter on the orcs. They were no longer a threat, and she needed him to understand that. In one swift motion, she swung her crystalline staff in front of her and summoned up an enlarged water elemental. The blue waves of his body seemed to soak everything around it, but she could tell the immense size of it seemed to strike fear in her father's men as they all gasped and seemed to take a step back. She threatened, "I won't let you do it, father. You don't understand!"
"I understand more than you suspect, my dear," her father revealed as he spun on his heel. Hurriedly he began to run out of the gate and as he did he hoped, "Perhaps in time, you will too. Seize them all!"
Once her father had run back out onto his ship, and his men began moving forward, Jaina motioned her hand towards the blockade of boxes and barrels behind her. From the sky, a dark cloud formed and from it ice shards fell crashing into the wood, destroying it. "Rexxar, Rokhan, you have to get out of here. I'll deal with my father's men.," she ordered.
"Lok'Tar Ogar, Jaina," Rexxar recited as he nodded at the sorceress before taking off into the open.
The soldiers began to inch forward, their swords drawn and their shields up. All at once the water elemental shot an enormous wave at them knocking a handful of them to the ground. Jaina quickly in her mind began to cast a follow-up. Within seconds, a large cone of flame erupted in the center of them, bursting them into flames. Many of the men hadn't simply been burnt to ash, but ignited and the screams of the men echoed throughout Theramore as they ran about thrashing, hoping to get back to the water before the flames engulfed them.
A couple of men atop horse back began to ride towards her. They yelled, "Jaina, don't resist us. Are you really willing to fight against your father, against your entire people?"
Her hands whipped about her body as she began to cast a spell. "I fight for what I believe in, for what I believe is right. The difference between you and I is that I have a clear vision of what is correct. You're so stuck to your old ideologies and ways that you can't see what's right in front of you," Jaina declared. When she had finished talking, she pointed her hand at the knights and watched as numerous tiny purple missiles shot from her hands and crashed into the knights turning them into nothing but a pile of ash before her.
After the last man had fallen she waved her staff in front of her and a blinding light engulfed her whisking her away. When the light cleared, she was in the top of her tower in Theramore. The familiar benches, tables, and bookcases almost soothed her, but not enough. Almost instantaneously she fell to her knees and began to sob.
What was she doing? She was fighting against her flesh and blood for a band of people that everyone around her viewed as monsters. Was she on the wrong side? No, they're wrong. They don't know the new Horde. Thrall would never allow any harm to befell the Alliance and papa just doesn't understand that. It feels so wrong to fight against him though.
A random cough brought her back to the present time. She spun around and came face to face with her little apprentice. The girl was not even four feet tall, but had more than enough personality to fill up the entire tower they were in. Her bright pink hair was pinned up in ponytails, and her deep brown eyes reminded Jaina of dark pools of chocolate. Even in the midst of the sorrow Jaina was feeling, the perkiness of Kinny threatened to make her smile. The girl could have cooed a feral dragon, but her best trait also led most to not take her seriously.
"My lady, what's wrong?" Kinny questioned rushing to her mentor's side.
Jaina stood up and brushed away her tears. She needed to remain strong. "It's nothing, Kinny."
"Jaina, I'm not stupid. What's wrong?" the gnome confronted.
Jaina sighed, "It's my father. He's back, and he's determined to destroy the Horde as they set up their new kingdom of Durotar."
Kinny knew how Jaina felt about the Horde and about Thrall in particular and gasped. She rushed to her mentors side and placed her arm around her. "I can't imagine what you're going through. You know what you need to do though. We've both seen the Horde that Thrall has created, and it's nothing like what your father remembers," Kinny reassured. "Whatever you have to do to get through to your father is what you have to do and you know it."
The mage began to sob again and bent down and wrapped her arms around the gnome. She knew exactly what she had to do, but she knew that it wasn't going to end in any way that a person wanted.
The blinding light faded, and Jaina was left looking at Rexxar and two other members of the Horde. One she knew from meeting him before they had all met the Oracle or as he had later been revealed, Medivh. He was tall, fur covered the entirety of his body, horns protruding from the top of his head, his enormous axe almost acting like a cane than a weapon to him. She knew this man was a tauren and he was their leader going by the name of Cairne Bloodhoof.
The other individual she knew well. She even would have called him one of her best friends. He had skin as green as the grass, his armor a dark blue and gold that surrounded his body. His long jet-black hair was in a braid that trailed down behind him, hair that matched that of the dire wolf that he was seated upon. In his hand he carried what would terrify anyone, a monstrous hammer with different sigils etched upon it. Jaina knew this weapon was named Doomhammer from it's previous owner and that the holder know was the warchief of the Horde, Thrall.
Coming here had hurt her than even losing Arthas had. She felt as if she was losing someone all over again. No matter how this battle ended she was going to be without a friend, or a father. The thought terrified her to no end. She stammered to the men around her, "Thrall, Rexxar, Cairne, I come in peace. You must believe me. I had no part in my father's plans. I wish none of this had ever happened. I-I don't know what to do."
Thrall reassured, "We've bled together on many battlefields, Jaina. We've faced untold perils as allies, but your father threatens the security of our nation and the very future of my people. You know how this has to end."
A solemn tone had set over her. This was the end. She had chosen a side and there was no coming back from it. "I know, Thrall," she stated. "Do what you must, but please, spare my men if you can. My father will try to use them against you, but they're the only real family I'll have left when this is over. Please do this, for me."
The orc chieftain nodded his head, his eyes filled with sadness for his friend. "We'll do all we can, Jaina. You have my word. Now you better make yourself scarce. The battle's about to begin," Thrall noted.
In a wave of her staff, she teleported away as the entire Horde began to descend upon Theramore. She watched from afar as ogres, trolls, orcs, and even other mercenaries stormed down upon her island like a plague. With a swift move of their axe, sword, or even magic the humans found themselves gutted and lying on the ground. The carnage simply disgusted Jaina, and she couldn't look. She only wished it was over soon.
As soon as it had started, though, she heard Rexxar and Thrall shouting about taking down Admiral Proudmoore, and she knew the end was nigh. Hastily she headed up the nearest hill, shrouded from onlookers. When she reached the top, she watched Rexxar pounce into the air bring his axe down upon her father. The steel ripped through his flesh like it was warm butter, his chest bursting open, blood, organs, and bones bursting out onto the ground around him.
In a horrific screech that tore Jaina to the core, Daelin Proudmoore dropped to the ground in a pool of his own blood. "It's over! Stand down, humans!" Rexxar shouted.
The daughter sprinted up to the dead man, her cloak flailing about around her. Numerous Kul'Tiras stood around just staring down at the onslaught that had happened. They all felt defeated, and they were also incredibly sad as they had lost a leader. Jaina felt for them, but felt more because she had lost a father. She had lost the man that had raised her from a little girl. The man who had taken her on boat rides, scolded her about her newest boyfriend, had tried to prevent her from studying in Dalaran, and in the grand scheme of things thought he was protecting her from the Horde.
"Father, why wouldn't you listen," she cried, a lone tear drop falling onto his lifeless body. Her hand crept its way towards his and wrapped around it, already the appendage feeling as cold as ice.
"Above all else, Jaina, he was a proud warrior. Remember him as such," Rexxar stated.
"Durotar is now safe. We have no further quarrel with these humans. We will leave your isle in peace, Jaina. I pray we never have to come here again. Farewell, sorceress," Thrall declared. The warchief, Rexxar, and all of his men then ran and began to leave Theramore, leaving her alone with the body of her father.
As she stood up, wiping the tears from her face, she directed the remainder of the the men her father had brought. "Take his body. Take it back to Kul'Tiras where my mother, Katherine, can have it properly buried," she ordered. All at once, every men ran to the dead Admiral's side and heaved him up. She watched as they loaded Daelin onto his ship, and the ship itself began to sail out of the harbor. Her father was gone.
"I pray we never have to come here again." Thrall's last words to her rang through her head. She scoffed to herself thinking about the encroaching war parties that had been seen, and finally the mana bomb that had been dropped upon her and her people. Thrall had put Garrosh in charge. It was all his fault that Kinny was dead. The Horde was nothing but vile, and she had watched them strike down her father right in front of her.
They have to pay.
With renewed vigor, she stepped ahead of Kel'Thuzad and into the abyss that was the doorway. On the other side was nothing more than a large open chamber. The same ashy, magma floor that was outside was also present in doors. Tiny fires ran rampant in small spaces all around, while acolytes donned in black and purple robes ran about different summoning circles. Giant abominations that appeared to have been sewn apart from different corpses roamed about, keeping the acolytes in check. The only feature inside the barren citadel of the mountain was the throne in the back of the room.
A plethora of acolytes were kneeled around it, simply bowed to nothing that was there but a throne that was made out of red clay and stone. Kel'Thuzad joined her and then led her forward towards the throne. She questioned the legitimacy of this being the Nathrezim homeworld as she hadn't seen any at all, until they came closer to the throne. On each side was a giant demon, their leathery wings taking up more room than even a home could. Their hooves clicked as they paced back and forth, their enormous claws every once in awhile catching a piece of metal and screeching, giving Jaina goosebumps.
As they ascended a small platform of stairs before they were in front of the throne, Jaina once again began to panic. What if they just killed her right here? Was this all for nothing?
"Jaina Proudmoore, it's been a very long time," a soothing yet rough voice growled from nowhere. Suddenly in front of her in the throne began to materialize another dreadlord. This one she knew well, though. The armor he wore as well as the full expanse of his wings was a lime green. His horns and claws were a jet black all set upon his graying skin. As he appeared his wings stretched out and Jaina noticed that they could have swallowed the whole room if he had wanted too. A sneer appeared on his face, showing his deadly fangs beneath.
"It's you," she gasped.