Emerald Aspect.
Part II: I Dreamed A Dream.
Uther slept badly that night, as images of the Lich's face haunted his dreams; and its voice pestered him about taking up Frostmourne again.
"My lord?" Sylvanas asked, as she sat up in her bed, and saw that he was already up, but looking incredibly tired. "Are you alright?"
"I am fine, just some bad dreams," Uther chuckled, trying to remain light hearted. "You ready for today's challenge?"
"A twisted Emerald dragon? Of course!" Sylvanas smiled, leaping to her feet. "Won't be as bad as the Lich was." She noticed Uther's pained expression at the name, and her smile died. "You too?"
"I take it he haunted your dreams?" Uther asked.
"Yes, though it seems it was worse for you," Sylvanas chuckled uncomfortably. "What does it want? Why does it still haunt us?"
"It does not seem to want revenge, it almost seems concerned." Uther pondered aloud. "It says something is coming, far worse than Deathwing, and only with its help can we win."
"Are you going to reclaim it?" Sylvanas immediately asked. "Are you going to risk him taking your mind again?"
"I do not know my dear. I think reclaiming it would be useful, but only to lock the remains away in the temple, where no one can get it." Uther stated. "But I have no intention to bind my soul with it again."
"A wise suggestion, but perhaps Alexstrasza should be consulted first." Sylvanas said, rousing Onyxia from her sleep.
"Morning master, mistress." Onyxia yawned. "What were you talking about?"
"Nothing important, did you sleep well?" Sylvanas smiled, helping Onyxia to her feet. "I take it the claw marks are a sign that you didn't."
"That's right master, I had nightmares about my father." Onyxia almost whimpered, seeming to be still scared of her nightmares. "I dreamt of the apocalypse he'll bring when he returns."
"Well then, it seems we all had nightmares," Uther sighed. "Highly apt, since we face an emerald dragon that was corrupted by the Emerald Nightmare."
"Well then, let's go!" Sylvanas said excitedly, leading them from the room.
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
It took them an hour's march, from Aerie Peak, for them to reach the river overlooking Seradane, as they ran into multiple groups of forest Trolls. They also made a quick stop at Quel'Danil, where Sylvanas pilfered some mail armour from the Elven armoury, and quickly donned it under her robes.
"This feels different," Sylvanas commented, as they crossed the river. "It's taking a lot to get used to."
"Against a dragon, it could save your life." Onyxia smiled.
As the Nightmare's shadow enveloped them, they were set upon by two drakes.
"Intruders!" One of them yelled.
"Don't let them approach the mistress!" the other added.
"It's Ysondre's guards!" Onyxia growled, quickly shifting into her natural dragon form. "Rothos and Dreamtracker."
"Kill them Onyxia, they are completely twisted from the guardians they once were," Uther yelled, seeing the look in the drakes' eyes. "Sylvanas, duck!"
Uther and Sylvanas hit the floor, as Onyxia dwarfed the two drakes, and immediately swiped her claws at them. Their weaker skulls shattered upon impact, and they fell to the floor, dead.
"That wasn't like you Uther" Sylvanas said, as they got to the feet, and Onyxia shifted back to her human guise. "Demanding Onyxia to kill them, without a second thought."
"I do not want to waste time, and I could see there was no redeeming them from the Nightmare's grasp," Uther said, rubbing his forehead. "I am sorry that they had to die, but I am still haunted by the prospect of the Lich's return."
"I understand my lord," Sylvanas said quickly. "I take it though, that you do not intend to kill Ysondre?"
"Last night that nightmarish vision gave me clarity with this matter," Uther smiled, as they approached the large portal, atop a stone ramp. "These Emerald kin, and the druids who worked with them in the Dream, are not in their right mind."
"I do not understand how this relates to it," Sylvanas asked, as they stopped at the base of the ramp.
"They are in the same state I was when it took control of me momentarily," Uther stated, as a large green dragon walked out of the portal, and smiled cruelly at them. "And it can be seen in their eyes, exactly how far they have fallen into the Nightmare's control."
"Why did you order their deaths?" Sylvanas asked, pointing at the two dead emerald dragons.
"As I stated; it was clear they were lost, their eyes showed no glimmer of who they were before the Nightmare took them." He explained. "I learnt that truth during the Second War. The deranged Orcs eyes were something you could never forget, and I know now that they were irredeemable in their blood haze. But when I met Thrall, I saw that there was no trace of their evil in his eyes, proving that there is some chance of redemption, even when supernatural forces take hold."
"What about her?" Onyxia growled, as she shifted into her dragon form again.
"We shall see, only when she nears the brink of death, will we know if she can be saved," Uther stated, unsheathing his blade.
"An obsidian dragon, here? Impossible!" Ysondre growled. "The Nightmare whispers that all obsidian kin are dead, except for three, though two are hidden from the world."
"Sounds like madness to me," Sylvanas said, drawing her bow. "Fight to kill?"
"No! To the brink, then we will know!" Uther yelled, as Ysondre roared, shooting green flames at them, as clouds formed and swirled around their heads.
Uther avoided her claws swiping at his head, but before he could move in closer, lightning struck the ground and he was forced to move out of the way.
"Elemental abilities!" Sylvanas exclaimed, as she dodged the lightning strikes effortlessly, and fired arrows into Ysondre's hide.
"Onyxia, keep her distracted!" Uther yelled, as he quickly circled the large emerald dragon.
"Yes master!" Onyxia growled, taking flight and hovering metres above the ground, making Ysondre to copy her.
Before Uther could seize the moment, ghostly figures charged out of the portal and attacked him.
"Spirits of the dead?" Sylvanas asked, as she put her bow over her shoulder and pulled out her daggers.
'They're not dead!' The voice whispered.
"Spirits of the druids trapped in the Nightmare!" Uther called back, focusing his holy aura into his sword swings.
Each swing vaporised the ghosts in a flash of gold, it didn't take long for all the spirits to be vanquished. Uther turned his attention back to the two fighting dragons; he saw an opportunity and took it.
"Onyxia, land!" Uther yelled.
Onyxia obeyed and Ysondre mirrored her opponent. Uther leapt on to Ysondre's back and clung on as she tried to shake him off.
"Be careful!" Sylvanas called, firing arrows at the Emerald dragon to distract it from Uther.
Uther reached the neck and clung on as the dragon tried harder to rid itself of the human on its back.
"Light give me strength" he muttered.
He leapt up and slammed the hilt of his sword on the dragon's skull. Ysondre roared and collapsed, Uther rolled off her head, and quickly got to his feet.
"I miss my old mace," he sighed, looking at the dwarven sword he now wielded.
"Is she dead?" Onyxia asked as she shifted into her human guise.
"No, just unconscious" Uther breathed, as he was suddenly out of breath from the battle, the adrenalin had worn off a lot quicker than he'd expected.
"My lord, look!" Sylvanas said, pointing at Ysondre.
Uther turned and saw the large Emerald dragon slowly shrink, slowly shifting into her mortal guise. Uther stared at the pale pink skinned elf with long flowing green hair, who lay where the dragon had been moments before. Her eyes were covered by a green blindfold, and she was dressed in what Uther presumed to be standard Druidic robes.
"I might have just dislodged the Nightmare's hold on her" Uther noted, as Ysondre began to stir.
"Or maybe given her concussion" Sylvanas joked. "She may be like us now, with the nightmare as a whisper in her head, no longer in control of her though."
"What… Where am I?" she said blearily.
"Seradane, the Hinterlands, Eastern Kingdoms" Sylvanas answered.
"I don't know where that is," Ysondre said, slowly getting to her feet. "Last thing I remember was protecting a portal in Ashenvale, how'd I get here?"
"We can't explain how you travelled continents, I doubt anyone could," Sylvanas chuckled.
"But the Emerald Nightmare took control of your mind" Uther said sternly. "We fought, and I dislodged its hold by knocking you out."
"The Emerald Nightmare!" Ysondre gasped. "I failed mother's wishes! I was supposed to…"
"Do not chastise yourself for losing to the Nightmare, it is clearly a lot stronger than anyone thought" Uther said softly. "We do know more than anyone else." Ysondre raised a curious eye brow at them.
"You've been affected by the Nightmare?" Ysondre asked, sounding hopeful that she'd found others like her.
"Not quite," Sylvanas said nervously. "It's a long story, but we were slaves, of sorts, to a strong power like the Nightmare, but we're free now."
"What of my brothers?" Ysondre asked.
"They are probably either dead or soon to be killed by mortal heroes." Onyxia said flatly. "It may not be possible for them to be saved from the clutches of the Emerald Nightmare." Ysondre collapsed to her knees and wept into her hands.
"They will find peace from the madness in death," Uther said softly, kneeling in front of the dragon's mortal form. "They died because they could not be saved; you are free of its grip, and alive."
"Who are you?" Ysondre asked, wiping the tears from under her blindfold.
"I am Lord Uther, formerly of Lordaeron; I now serve the Life-Binder Alexstrasza." Uther said, bowing slightly. "This is Sylvanas Windrunner, my protégée and companion, and Onyxia, formerly of the Obsidian dragonflight, she now serves me."
"You have a black dragon as a pet?" Ysondre asked, sounding sceptical.
"Look into her eyes, her father's fire has gone, in its place is the Light's holy energy" Uther said smiling.
"Why did you have to fight me?" Ysondre quickly asked.
"Alexstrasza has charged us with saving each of the dragon aspects from whatever ails them," Sylvanas said, as she quickly began picking up her arrows from the ground. "We saved Alexstrasza's eggs from Grim Batol, and we were then sent here to kill you, as you'd fallen to the Nightmare."
"Why didn't you kill me?" Ysondre asked.
"I saw that the Nightmare did not have full control over you, that you could still be saved" Uther said, looking through her blindfold, to the glowing eyes that lay beneath.
"I thank you Lord Uther for sparing my life" Ysondre bowed. "I ask only one thing in return."
"What would that be?" Uther asked, as Sylvanas helped him to his feet.
"That I pledge myself to your service," Ysondre bowed her head. "You saved my life, I now ask that I serve you as both penance for my sins, and to honour you for not killing me."
"Isn't that up to Ysera?" Sylvanas asked.
"Mother would understand my reasons," Ysondre said quickly. "You not only saved me, but you were honourable to spare me."
"One moment" Uther said, pulling out the dragonscale pendant and squeezing it.
'My Lord Uther, what may I do to help you?' Alexstrasza asked when she appeared in his mind.
'We have broken the Nightmare's hold on Ysondre, she now wishes to pledge herself to me, as penance.' Uther quickly explained.
'And you want to know if Ysera will agree to it?' Alexstrasza asked. 'I shall ask her, in the meantime, your next destination is the area south-east of Stormwind, there is something that ails the Emerald flight there.'
'That is where the Dark Portal is located,' Uther stated, his voice etched with fear. 'My queen I do not wish to ever return there.'
'It is not the Dark Portal, whatever it is, is north-east of the Portal.' Alexstrasza smiled.
'But there is mainly ancient swampland north of the Portal, with nothing of value there,' Uther stated, confused as to how it could be affecting the Emerald aspect. 'There used to be Troll temple, but that was…'
'I think you should head for Darkshire, a child of Ysera will meet you there,' Alexstrasza interrupted.
'Understood Alestrasza.' Uther bowed before she faded from his mind.
"Well my lord?" Ysondre asked. "What did she say?"
"She shall ask Ysera, in the meantime we are to head south," Uther stated. "There is something harming your kin in the swamp south-east of Stormwind."
"Should I accompany you?" Ysondre asked, "in case mother says yes?"
"I don't see why not, you'd be a welcome part of our little rag-tag group." Sylvanas smiled. "We're four unique individuals, all with experience of a great evil controlling our actions, and slight outcasts from regular society."
"That is a rather odd view to take," Uther chuckled. "And how are we outcasts?"
"We're respective outcasts, my people will probably not accept me back any time this century, Onyxia is technically undead, and her kin likely want her dead," Sylvanas explained nervously.
"And me?" Uther asked.
"We're immortal, and if you're not an outcast now, you will be soon," Sylvanas sounded more nervous as she skated over the awkward subject. "Those you love will grow old, and you won't."
"Wow, this just became uncomfortable" Ysera commented.
"I understand my dear; I have experienced that already, to an extent." Uther sighed. "But it is a natural part of life, there is little we can do about it."
"So is facing up to what you've done!" a voice called, the four of them wheeled around to find that they were surrounded by Elven rangers pointing their bows at them. "And you're just about to do that." Jalinde strode forward, her bow aimed at Uther's throat.
"Brave, considering you're confronting two fully grown dragons," Onyxia growled.
"We're trained enough to fill you full of arrows before you can transform," Jalinde said proudly. "And they're capable of piercing dragonhide."
"And how would you know that?" Ysondre growled. "Do you have experience killing full grown dragons?"
"Not full grown, but we've killed enough of the little ones that encroached on our territory…" Jalinde boasted, but Ysondre cut her off.
"You dare kill the kin of Ysera the Dreamer!" Ysondre growled.
"If they encroach on our territory, then we have every right to," Jalinde said flatly. "Besides, no mortal has seen your 'Dreamer' in years!"
Suddenly Ysondre convulsed and collapsed, before quickly getting up and ripping off her blindfold, revealing multi-coloured glowing eyes. When she spoke her voice was deep and melodic, but sounded distant.
"Just because I am not seen, does not mean that I do not wander and watch, especially where my kin are concerned." Ysondre said.
"Ysera" Uther and Sylvanas said instinctively, bowing to her, with Onyxia copying them, Jalinde froze.
"Impossible" the ranger breathed, taking a few steps back.
"The Dreamer may commune through the minds of other dreamers," Ysera explained.
"What do you want?" Jalinde asked.
"For my kin to be left in peace, and for Lord Uther and Lady Sylvanas to be allowed to continue on their quest." Ysera stated a faint growl in her voice. "The crime you accuse them of is minor, compared to the evil that is coming, and the slaughter your people have committed against my kin, a crime you have admitted to."
Before Jalinde could respond, Ysera made Ysondre grab Sylvanas and take off into the air, the elven arrows were blocked by a wall of clouds and lightning.
"Onyxia, after her!" Uther yelled, watching as Ysondre flew south-east.
Onyxia transformed, and Uther leapt on her back as she took off.
"Don't think our business is finished so quickly!" Jalinde called as they took off, quickly following after Ysondre and Sylvanas.