Chronicle of the Emerald Aspect.
Part I: Enter Sandman.
"In the name of the High Thane, surrender and dismount the black dragon" a guard ordered.
"Funny," Sylvanas called back. "We've just come from Grim Batol," the guards tensed at the mention.
"Where we, and Falstad, destroyed the cursed city" Uther finished her statement.
The guards stood back at the mention of their Thane, allowing them to dismount Onyxia, unmolested, before she transformed. A familiar night elf approached them, accompanied by an equally familiar dwarf, and an elegant, brown haired high elf.
"Greetings Lord Uther and company," Fandral said warmly, as the two trios met. "You already know Falstad Wildhammer, High Thane of the Wildhammer Clan, and this is…"
"Jalinde Summerdrake, Ranger General of Quel'Danil Lodge" Jalinde cut in, her eyes shot daggers at them. "If you thought we wouldn't keep an ear out for word of your return to Lordaeron, you were mistaken Sunwell destroyers."
"We didn't destroy it!" Sylvanas blurted angrily.
"You might as well have, considering the damage you two caused" Jalinde snapped. "I should take you back to Silvermoon in chains for what you did, but Arch druid Staghelm says your needed here."
"Here, Duskwood, Ashenvale and Feralas, to be exact" Fandral chuckled.
"We cannot be in four places at once" Uther said wearily.
"No one's expecting you to be," Falstad laughed. "Tyrande has enlisted some old allies to take care of the other three, leaving this one to you. But it's not that simple with this one."
"Why not?" Onyxia asked, Uther noted a slight shudder from the Archdruid, as if he were loathed to answer her question.
"The fallen Emerald dragon that guards this Great Tree is the strongest and most twisted of the 'Dragons of Nightmare'." Falstad answered. "Ysondre, eldest child of Ysera. She also has two big drakes with her as well; Rothos and Dreamtracker."
"Plus you need to do what so many have failed to do in order to save the Emerald Aspect completely." Fandral stated. "Enter the Emerald Nightmare and cleanse it."
"What?" Uther, Sylvanas and Onyxia exclaimed.
"How are they meant to undo what your druids and the Emerald dragonflight have failed to stop?" Falstad asked indignantly.
"They've already defeated impossible odds, so compared to the Lich King; the Emerald Nightmare will be a walk in the park." Fandral chuckled. "Good day."
Before they could stop him, he transformed into a bird and flew away.
"I will commune with Alexstrasza before I even consider walking into the Nightmare" Uther said flatly.
"But you will deal with Ysondre?" Jalinde asked. "We've got enough trouble with the trolls, to deal with rogue Emerald dragonkin as well."
"That's what we're here to do" Sylvanas smiled. "Save each dragonkin from whatever ails it, before facing the two real threats."
"Which are?" Jalinde asked.
"The Obsidian and Azure dragonflights" Onyxia stated. "My father is returning, and Malygos is up to something dire."
"And you're not with him?" Jalinde asked.
"I died following his ideology" Onyxia said coldly. "I was reborn under Lord Uther's teachings, and I no longer follow my fathers or late brother's desires to wipe out all life."
"Well that's just dandy" Jalinde said sarcastically. "A; quote unquote, former black dragon, a former paladin of Lordaeron, and a former ranger general of Silvermoon, working together for the dragon queen's benefit. Forgive me if I do not show faith in your potential to help the people of Azeroth, especially my people."
"I am still a member of the Silver Hand, and Sylvanas here wants to become a paladin under my tutelage." Uther stated, Sylvanas smiled at the mention. "And we are working for Azeroth's benefit, not Alexstrasza's."
"Whatever, just stay away from Quel'Danil, unless you want to be dragged to Silvermoon to face justice for your crimes." Jalinde said coldly, before walking away.
"You must forgive her, the forest trolls have been putting pressure on both our positions, creating a fair amount of stress" Falstad stated.
"How did you get here ahead of us?" Uther chuckled.
"I asked a mage to teleport me here." Falstad stated. "I take it you'll want to resupply before facing Ysondre?"
"That's correct," Sylvanas stated, pointing to her empty quiver. "And perhaps some rest, I haven't slept since Ironforge."
"And I think that Alexstrasza should be contacted," Uther added. "There are other forces at work here, Benedictus made that apparent."
"Understood, if you'll follow me," Falstad said, leading them into Aerie Peak Keep, where he quickly found them an isolated room, in which they could have some privacy and rest. "I'll make sure you're not disturbed, and that the supplies you need are left outside for you."
"Thank you Falstad," the trio said, before the dwarf turned and left.
Sylvanas shut the door, and locked it, whilst Onyxia tried to settle on one of the beds. Uther sat in the corner and held the pendant in his hands, focusing on Alexstrasza. The Dragon Queen appeared before him with four small whelps, eagerly hovering around her.
'Evening my queen' Uther said politely. She looked up from her kin and smiled warmly at him.
'My hero!' she said warmly. 'You saved them all, and look, four hatched when they arrived home.'
'Any signs of corruption?' Uther immediately asked. 'They were in the presence of a Faceless One.'
'I have warmed them in my fire, and have checked them over personally, and I smell no corruption on them.' Alexstrasza smiled, gently petting the little dragons. 'I think I know what to name them.'
'Oh?' Uther raised an eyebrow and slowly approached.
'I will name them after the heroes who saved them' Alexstrasza said enthusiastically. 'Uthestrasza, Sylvanastrasza, Onyxstrasza and Falstrasza.'
'I am honoured by the tribute my queen' Uther chuckled, as the one she had named after him fluttered toward him.
'What news on my sister's kin?' Alexstrasza asked, as Uther petted Uthestrasza.
'We are taking on one of Ysera's four lieutenants, who have been corrupted by the Emerald Nightmare' Uther informed her. 'Whilst other teams take on the other three.'
'Which one are you facing?' Alexstrasza asked, walking up to him and encouraging Uthestrasza to perch on her shoulder.
'Ysondre.' Uther said slowly. 'But that is not what worrys me.'
'Speak your mind my champion' Alexstrasza said, gently cupping his chin, he felt her warming presence surge through his body.
'Fandral said we had to enter the Nightmare and defeat it' Uther explained, making Alexstrasza recoil. 'I did not say it to his face, but I have no intention of entering it.'
'A wise choice, the Nightmare is beyond any druid, and more than anything you have faced.' Alexstrasza smiled. 'I shall speak to Ysera's kin in the temple; see if there is something else you can do, to end the Nightmare.'
'Thank you my queen.' Uther bowed, which promptly made the dragon queen giggle.
'Whatever happened to calling me Alexstrasza, there is no need to be so formal with me.' Alexstrasza smiled.
'I apologise, I forgot, Alexstrasza.' Uther stammered.
'That is quite alright Uther; I understand that you have got a lot on your mind.' Alexstrasza smiled, stepping closer to him, with the four whelps vanishing from sight. 'How are your companions?'
'Onyxia seems to be fine, though like everyone she fears her father returning.' Uther sighed.
'Naturally,' Alexstrasza nodded. 'And young Sylvanas?'
'She has asked to be trained by me, to become a paladin' Uther smiled. 'She wants to follow my example.'
'I would hope she becomes something between her ranger past, and your paladin self.' Alexstrasza chuckled. 'That allows her to not neglect what she has already learnt.'
'I shall relay the suggestion.' Uther smiled. 'Is there anything else you require of me?'
'Uther, you may be my champion, but your deeds and skills make you my equal' she said softly, as her fingers traced along his paladin armour. 'The only thing I require of you, is that you return to my temple alive, and in one piece. I do enjoy your presence, your years on the front lines and the knowledge you have is of great help to me.'
'My queen?' Uther asked, confused by her sudden shift. 'I mean Alexstrasza?'
'It is nothing my dear Uther, just the ramblings of an old dragon queen' Alexstrasza said softly, waving away the issue with her hand. 'May the blessing of the Life Binder go with you, Sylvanas and Onyxia.'
As the mental link began to fade, Alexstrasza suddenly kissed him, and he melted to her warm touch. He closed his eyes and revelled in the incredible, heated sensation in his lips.
"My lord?" a voice said cautiously.
Uther opened his eyes and saw Sylvanas and Onyxia staring at him in confusion; clearly he had been kissing thin air to them.
"What were you doing?" Onyxia asked.
"Kissing the dragon queen... I think... I hope." Sylvanas commented.
"She kissed me!" Uther immediately snapped.
"Sure," Sylvanas stated, rolling her eyes. "You seemed to enjoy it."
"Hard not to enjoy Alexstrasza's kiss," he said softly, before shaking his head and glaring at her. "When was the last time you kissed a dragon?"
Before Uther could correct himself, Sylvanas grabbed Onyxia by the collar of her dress, and kissed her on the lips.
"Just then" Sylvanas said dryly.
"The dragon queen is a little different to dear Onyxia," Uther chuckled, as the former Obsidian brood mother wiped her lips.
"That was nice, but don't make it a habit" Onyxia stated, making all three of them laugh. "What did she say?"
"The eggs arrived safely, four of them have hatched, and she has named them after us," Uther smiled. "Uthestrasza, Sylvanastrasza, Falstrasza and Onyxstrasza."
"That's nice, anything else" Sylvanas said flatly.
"We are not to enter the Nightmare, and she will contact us after speaking with Ysera's kin, regarding the Nightmare." Uther summarised. "But we need to rest; we do not know what lies in store for us tomorrow."
"Agreed!" Onyxia said quickly. She settled into the foetal position on one of the beds, and quickly drifted off to sleep.
"Well, that's one step up from the floor," Sylvanas remarked, before removing her weapons and her tattered ranger garb.
"We really need to get you some new clothes, you've been wearing that since we first met" Uther chuckled.
"It's my penance," Sylvanas said, staring at the outfit that she had strived to keep wearable and intact.
"For the Sunwell?" Uther asked, walking slowly over to her. "That was not your fault."
"I know, but the Lich is dead, and the Sunwell is still damaged because of us," Sylvanas said softly. "Someone has to suffer."
"Not you," Uther said, wheeling her around and making her look him in the eye. "It suffered for that, we killed it and destroyed the Scourge, surely that is justice for the Sunwell being damaged."
"I guess, I'll scavenge some pieces from the dwarves, and adjust it to fit me," Sylvanas smiled. "That'll last until you get me some paladin armour."
"Alexstrasza suggested you become a ranger-paladin hybrid, using both mine and your own skills to the best possible use," Uther smiled, walking over to a vacant bed and unfastening the bigger pieces of his armour. "So that would mean you are not forced to wear full plate armour like me."
"Okay, so I'll make do with plate chest piece and shoulders, maybe mail underneath, and leather boots, bracers and gloves." Sylvanas surmised, helping him to remove the shoulder and chest pieces. "We'll come to that when we head for Stormwind."
"Indeed we will." Uther chuckled. "Good night, my dear."
"Night my lord" Sylvanas said brightly, before they both settled into their individual beds, and drifted off to sleep.
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
In his dream, he was flying over glacial waters, large chunks of ice and snow floated on the surface of deep blue sea. Suddenly he dived beside a particularly large iceberg. At the base, lay a familiar cluster of metal objects.
'You need me!' the voice whispered. 'The dragons are not the only danger that comes to destroy Azeroth! You will need my power, if you are to win.'
His dream focused on the two pieces of the Lich King's helmet, and the eye slots seemed to glow in the dim light.
'Deal with the Emerald Nightmare, then return to Northrend, and reclaim your former power… If you wish to save your precious Dragon Queen from certain death.' The Lich King said coldly. 'There is no alternative!'
The helmet's eyes flashed bright blue, which made Uther sit up suddenly, panting and sweating profusely.
"How is it still alive?" he breathed. "What else could be coming?"
In the dim candle light, he saw both Sylvanas and Onyxia still sleeping, but clearly plagued by nightmares of their own.