Part I: It's On Again.
The four heroes stepped out on to the streets of Stratholme the next day, as the sun rose overhead. Uther immediately felt a lump form in his throat, as opposite the Deeprun station entrance, was a commemorative statue to the massacre, with a plaque that read:
To all those who died at the Mad Prince's hand,
This city endures despite his insanity, and we are forever thankful to Lord Uther who stopped it and the Silver Hand who restored the people's faith.
Mayor Quimby.
Stratholme City Council.
"That's a touching thing for them to have done," Sylvanas said, quickly reading the plaque, as well as the lists of the dead. "This city suffered, and it's good to see it rising from the ashes."
"My lord," Onyxia said, her eyes were fixed on the deeprun tram station.
"Yes Onyxia?" he said, moving to stand beside her.
"When we were on the tram, did you feel like you were being watched?" she asked.
"No. Why?" he replied.
"I think my father was watching me, I could feel his anger permeating my form," she shuddred and he put an arm around her shoulder.
"He will come, and we will face him together, do not fear him." Ysondre said softly.
"Come on; let us head for the church." Uther said, ushering them all to follow him.
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"Ah Lord Uther, how may the Light serve you today?" the priest said as they entered the small church on the east side of Stratholme.
"I've come to induct Sylvanas into the Paladin order, as well as begin her training," Uther said proudly, whilst Sylvanas stepped forward.
"You heard that Dathrohan wants all inductions to take place in Stratholme?" the priest asked.
"Yes, Tirion told me." Uther sighed. "Why?"
"They 'have' to take place in the Cathedral on the other side of the city, not here," the priest sighed, clearly irritated.
"What?" Uther exclaimed. "I was inducted here, so was Tirion and Saidan, why the sudden change?"
"No idea my lord," the priest said quickly.
"I hardly need the fancy ceremony, I just need her to be declared a member of the Order so I can begin her training," Uther stated. "I do not have time for full formalities."
"I understand my lord, word is rife that you are back in Lordaeron on a mission for the fabled dragon queen, but I am afraid to make her an official member, she has to be inaugurated at the cathedral." The priest stated. "Best I can do is make her an honorary member, it will allow you to train her, but you will need to return for the full ceremony eventually."
"That will have to do, I…" Uther sighed, before he felt the dragonscale pendant burn against his flesh. "Excuse me."
He walked to the far corner and clasped the pendant firmly, feeling its warmth permeate his body, and his mind fly to the Wyrmrest Temple. He opened his eyes and saw Alexstrasza standing before him, with a tall, dark brown haired elf with burning bronze eyes and strange armour that seemed to shift by itself.
'My lord Uther!' Alexstrasza said warmly, quickly hugging him tightly. 'How wonderful to see you again, may I introduce my brother Nozdormu, leader of the Bronze dragonflight.'
'Greetings Lord Uther, Alexstrasza has told me great things about you, and it is a pleasure to say that the sands of time agree,' he said quickly. 'Your impact on history is far greater than you realise, and your role in upcoming events will be greater still.'
'You'll have to forgive him, the Titans charged him with watching over the time streams, he exists in many points throughout time, and often speaks of things yet to come.' Alexstrasza explained.
'But that is not why I am here,' Nozdormu stated. 'There are disturbances in the past that require your attention. That much is certain.'
'What do you want me to do?' Uther asked.
'Come to Tanaris, my kin await you in the Caverns of Time. When you arrive they will explain the situation.' Nozdormu stated. 'Time cannot be wasted.'
'I am currently in Stratholme, Sylvanas is going to become a honorary member of the Silver Hand, and begin her Paladin training,' Uther said quickly, 'after it is done we will… argh!'
Uther felt a searing pain in his head, and a whisper sent cold, sharp stabbing pains through his body.
'You will come to me when she is done!' the voice hissed. 'There is much more at play than petty dragons fighting for supremacy. Retrieve me from the depths and I will explain everything to you, I lack the power to tell you now!'
'Lord Uther?' Alexstrasza asked, helping him to stand up again.
'There is a disturbance in the timelines, I must go!' Nozdormu said quickly, before vanishing from the room.
'My Lord Uther, what is wrong?' she asked, as he had a hand pressed against his temple.
'It… It is speaking to me again,' Uther grunted. 'It has been over a year and nothing, but this recent conflict has somehow brought it back.'
'Impossible!' she said coldly. 'The Lich King died one year ago, you killed it.'
'I know, it does not make any sense,' he said, quickly recovering his senses. 'What would you recommend my queen?'
'Find out what it wants, but do not trust it,' she said sternly.
'But it lies at the bottom of the ocean, how am I supposed to retrieve it?' Uther asked.
'I will ask the local Tuskarr to retrieve it, and my kin will deliver its remains to you at Gadgetzan,' Alexstrasza said flatly. 'They will be warned of the dangers, and no one will touch it with their bare skin.'
'Thank you my queen, I have a plan should it demand anything, but for now I will keep it quiet.' Uther sighed, feeling a certain level of relief that he did not need to divert from helping the Bronze dragons.
'I understand my Lord Uther, and I strongly advise caution,' she said, her gold eyes staring into his grey ones. 'I wish you luck with my brother's problem, and to Sylvanas in her training, I am sure you'll make her into an excellent Paladin.'
'Thank you my queen,' he smiled, before their conversation was cut, and he returned to his body.
"All done my lord, Sylvanas Windrunner is now an apprentice Paladin to you, and will become a full member upon the completion of her training." The priest said proudly.
"Excellent, because we are needed on the other side of the world," Uther said, re-joining his travelling companions.
"What's wrong my lord?" Ysondre asked.
"Nozdormu's kin require our help" he said quickly.
"There's something you're not telling us," Sylvanas said, sensing that he was holding something back.
"Just something Nozdormu said about the crisis, it is nothing my dear," he chuckled. "Good day sir, may the light give you strength."
"And you Lord Uther," the priest said merrily, before walking into the Vestibule.
"How are we going to get across the world in a short amount of time?" Sylvanas asked, skipping with excitement at being a paladin in training under Uther.
"Sounds like you could use a mage" Jaina said, making them all jump in surprise.
"You can get us to Tanaris?" Uther asked. "And how did you know where we were?"
"Intuition," she said brightly. "And yes I've been there; I spent the last year travelling across Kalimdor, learning from Tyrande and Cairne about its history."
"Alright, let's go." Sylvanas said brightly.
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They appeared in a dingy, smelly pub and were immediately assaulted by the shear heat of the desert.
"Welcome to Gadgetzan, southern-most town in Kalimdor, and the quote unquote capital of Tanaris," Jaina said proudly. "It's also a sleazy place so tread carefully."
"You could have warned me about the heat Jaina, I am almost cooking in this armour," Uther said, wiping away sweat from his forehead.
"Sorry Uther," she apologised, before casting spells on him and Sylvanas. "This should help."
Uther felt a chill permeate his body, a cooling sensation that neutralised the heat of the desert.
"Frost armour, but it will only last for an hour, so you may want to get moving," Jaina said quickly.
"Will it last until we reach the Caverns of Time?" Sylvanas asked, peering out the door.
"I'm not sure, that would depend how slow you move through the desert," Jaina shrugged.
"Alright, Onyxia, Ysondre, care to give us a lift?" Sylvanas asked, still incredibly cheerful.
"Of course," the two dragons said in unison.
"Jaina, could you wait here please. We are expecting Alexstrasza to send us something, her envoy is supposed to meet us here." Uther said as Sylvanas, Onyxia and Ysondre left the pub.
"Could you tell me what you're expecting them to deliver?" Jaina asked.
"Something from my… past," Uther stated. "I know what you will think of me, but there are a lot of things at work that we do not fully understand."
"I will trust your judgement Uther, and I will wait here for the dragon envoy," Jaina sighed, before heading into the back of the pub and taking a seat. "Good luck with your quest."
"I will see you soon Jaina," Uther waved, before walking out and immediately being greeted by a transformed Ysondre.
"Climb on my back my lord, Sylvanas has gone ahead." Ysondre roared, scaring away a few curious Goblins.
"She seems quite energetic since she joined the order," he chuckled, as he mounted the ancient emerald dragon.
"It is a new life for her, and she is eager to embrace this new opportunity." Ysondre growled, as they flew south toward a solitary mountain range.
"Have you ever been here before?" Uther quickly asked.
"No my lord, the Caverns of Time is fiercely protected by the Bronze kin, rarely do they allow outsiders to enter or even approach their territory." Ysondre replied, as they descended toward the entrance.
"Greetings Lord Uther and company, we knew you were coming." A tall Sin'dorei male said as they landed and dismounted. "I am Zaladormu, warden of the Caverns of Time while father is away."
"What is the situation?" Uther asked.
"A new threat has emerged, and is threatening key moments in the timeline; the ones that require your current attention are in the past." Zaladormu stated, leading them into the cavern.
"What points are we talking about?" Uther asked, curious which points he'd be sent back to save.
"We've sent agents into the rifts to find out, you will be briefed when you enter them." Zaladormu relpied, as he led them down a long, twisting passage. "There are three that require your attention now."
"What do you mean 'require our attention now'?" Sylvanas asked.
"You will need to return here eventually, but not now." Zaladormu explained. "We know this from the timelines; your presence is quite distinct."
"Thanks, I think." Sylvanas said slowly.
"Here is the first rift, please step through and speak to my kin on the other side." Zaladormu smiled as they stood outside a swirling portal. "They are expecting you."
"Here goes nothing," Uther sighed, before cautiously walking into the swirling mist.