A Dark Culling, And The Beginning Of The Fall.
After the brutal battle against the undead hordes at Hearthglen, Arthas' demeanor had changed drastically. It didn't take a jedi to sense the darkness growing inside him, the dark side of the force was all around him, and the light was growing more and more faint. Jaina sensed it better than anyone, her bond with Arthas made his growing darkness feel like a festering wound. She dreaded what was happening to her secret lover. Arthas journey's through the woods to Stratholme entirely alone.
After a while he runs into a hooded man "Greetings, young jedi prince. We must talk".
"I have no time for this! If you value your life, head for the nearest shelters were the soldiers can protect you" Arthas said, doing his best to keep up his jedi duties and was about to keep going.
"Listen to me, boy. This planet is lost! The dark side has already fallen, and nothing you do will deter it. If you truly wish to save your people, lead them across the stars... to a safer planet" The Man said.
"Flee? My only course is to defend my people! You expect me to just abandon my home planet and leave it to rot?" Arthas snapped, hating the mere thought of leaving his home planet, he die before he let whoever was doing this have his planet.
"Then your choice is already made. Just remember, the harder you strive to slay your enemies, the faster you'll deliver your people right into their hands" The Man said before he suddenly vanished.
Arthas looked around. He sensed the man's power as they spoke, but now he was just gone. Leaving no trace of his pressence. Whoever that was, he's powerful, very powerful. But his suggestion to abandon the planet was insane.
Jaina, who had concealed herself throughout the conversation, reveals herself "I'm sorry for concealing myself, Arthas. I just wanted to-".
"Don't say it!" Arthas growled out.
"I sensed tremendous power about him, Arthas. Maybe he's right. Maybe he does know what will happen" Jaina tried to reason.
"Nothing he can say will make me abandon my planet, Jaina. I don't care if that madman has seen the future. Let's go" Arthas said angrily and continued his way to Stratholme. Jaina hesitated, but soon followed him.
Lena and Nova had been watching them from the distance. Both were growing more and more worried about Arthas. Little did they know just how much their worry was justified.
Early the next morning, the jedi and their allies arrive near Stratholme. Uther arrived in a ship soon after. As he stepped outside, he wasn't greeted with what he was hoping for. He had hoped the trip would give Arthas time to cool of and focus, but he looked even worse than before.
"Glad you could make it, Master" Arthas said dryly.
"Watch your tone with me, boy. You may be the prince on this planet, but I'm still your superior as a jedi" Uther warned.
"As if I could forget. Listen, Uther, there's something about the plague you should know..." Arthas began as he looks around and sees grain crates already opened "Oh no. We're too late. These people have already been infected! They may look fine now, but it's just a matter of time before they turn into the undead!"
Uther's serious face quickly turned in to one of worry when he heard that. The others were worried about the people in the city. They would soon turn in to undead and had no idea... but what Arthas said next hit them like an crashing ship.
"This entire city must be purged" Arthas said aggressively.
"What!? How can you even consider that? There's got to be some other way" Uther argued.
"Damn it, Uther! As the future king of the planet, I order you to purge this city!" Arthas demanded, no hint of reasoning in his tone and was now suddenly trying to use his position as prince of the planet's kingdom to force his allies to follow hiss plan.
"You are not my king, boy! You were only my Padawan. Nor would I obey that command even if you were a council member!" Uther shot back and turned to leave, not even wanting to ponder the idea of killing an entire city of innocent people.
"Then I must consider this an act of treason" Arthas said, his voice cold.
Uther stopped dead in his tracks and turned back around "Treason? Have you lost your mind, Arthas?".
"Have I? Jedi Master Uther, by my right of succession and the sovereignty of my crown, I hereby banish you from my home land, along with any soldier that follows you" Arthas spoke up.
Jaina tried to argue "Arthas, you can't just-".
"It's done!" Arthas snapped, silencing her "Those of you who have the will to save this planet, follow me! The rest of you... get out of my sight!".
"You've just crossed a terrible threshold, Arthas. My the light of the force save your soul" Uther said before he leaves with several soldiers.
"Arthas, don't do this!" Lena pleaded "We can't just slaughter innocent people like this. Some of them might not even be infected. They can still be saved!".
"Nothing in that city can be saved now. Tell me Lena. What would you prefer? Die as a human? Or become an undead slave?" Arthas asked.
Lena was silent for a moment "You're right... I would much rather die than turning in to one of those things. But that would be my personal decision, we can't make that choice for everyone".
"No! This needs to be done! As the future king, and as a jedi, I need to protect my people. Even if it means saving them from a fate worse then death!" Arthas snapped again.
"He's right..." Nova said.
Lena looked at her lover is shock "Nova?".
"If we don't act quickly, the plague could spread across the entire planet. Billions of people would turn in to monsters..." Nova said.
"You can't be serious Nova! Not after you told me how shocked you were when Arthas killed that orc!" Lena said, really hoping the woman she loved wasn't really considering purging a whole city.
"Killing an unarmed and defeated foe is different. I hate the very idea of killing all these people, but the deaths of thousands could save billions. Besides, it's not murder, we're granting them a merciful death, letting them die as people and not as monsters" Nova reasoned.
Lena couldn't believe what she was hearing but she wasn't going to just accept this "If you do this... Then we're done".
Nova got wide eyes "You don't mean that".
"I do! I can handle being with a soldier, but I could never love a butcher! If you kill these people, then our relationship is over!" Lena said, making her ultimatum very clear.
Nova was clearly conflicted as he looked down for several seconds "I... I swore that I would do anything to protect the people of the galaxy... no matter the sacrifice... I'm sorry Lena".
Lena looked hurt and betrayed before turning around "Then you've made your choice... Goodbye, Nova... I hope we never meet again".
Her words hurt more than any blaster wound, and Nova watched her lover walk away, who didn't look back at her, not even once. Jaina soon followed, much to the dread of Arthas.
"Jaina?" Arthas spoke in desperation.
"I'm sorry, Arthas. I can't watch you do this" Jaina said before walking away.
Arthas was silent for a moment before placing a hand on Nova's shoulder, assuring her she wasn't alone. Both knew there would be no going back from this, but they had no other choice. This had to be done.
At the entrance of Stratholme, Arthas, Nova and the soldiers who had chosen to help, all stood ready to begin the purge. Arthas closed his eyes, he could sense the resolve and hesitation of everyone around him, it's like the force itself was screaming at him not to do this. But if he didn't, all of his people would be doomed to damnation. He didn't want this, he tried to consider any other way, but they had no cure and the people would turn long before they could come up with another solution. So this had to be done.
"Father... please forgive what I must do" Arthas whispered before turning to his soldiers "Remember, everyone in this city is at risk of turning in to horrible monsters, they will suffer a fate far worse than death if we don't do this. This is the only mercy we can grant them. So steel your hearts and do not hesitate. We're culling a city so a planet can live. Now, forward!".
The soldiers steeled themselves as they began marching in to the city. At first people were relived to see them... but the relief turned to horror as the soldiers suddenly raised their weapons and fired on them. The people began to panik, having no idea why their own soldiers were killing them. Some tried to fight back but they were no match against a small army of trained soldiers and a jedi. Arthas killed several with his lightsaber, making sure their deaths were quick and painless, each death made him hate himself more and more, yet he still pressed on. Nova had taken up a sniping position... but she couldn't bring herself to pull the trigger... there were so many women and soldiers down there, how could she possibly kill them?
As Arthas killed some people he sensed some horrific darkness. He looked up and saw a winged humanoid creature looking down at him with an evil smile. Arthas could sense his power, it was similar to Kel'thuzad, only much greater... Could it be...?
"Greetings young jedi, I am Mal'Ganis, and I'm here to turn everyone in this city in to loyal minions. Your efforts are for naught, your people already belongs to me" The creature said, confirming Arthas' suspicion.
"I won't allow it Mal'Ganis! Better these people die by my hand, than to serve as your slaves in death! And will avenge them all by slaying you as well!" Arthas declared.
"Then let your first test begin" Mal'Ganis said as he glides down on the ground.
Arthas attacked first, but as he swung his Lightsaber, Mal'Ganis used the force to stop it before slashing at Arthas chest with his claws and force pushed Arthas away, he then unleashed a blast of force lighting from his hands. Arthas managed to block the bolts with his lightsaber, but Mal'Ganis flies forward and managed grab Arthas by the neck and grabbed the arm that was holding the lightsaber. He squeezed Arthas' arm to the point he dropped his saber from. Mal'Ganis looked unimpressed by the jedi prince's efforts.
"This is the best you can do? Perhaps you're not as strong as he thought" Mal'Ganis said before he had to lean his head back as a bolt from a sniper flew right by his face, courtesy of Nova.
The distraction allowed Arthas to break free and force pushed Mal'Ganis away before pulling his saber back and Mal'Ganis used the force to pull a large dagger in to his hand and charged it up with dark force energy. The two clash multiple times before Arthas is able to knock away Mal'Ganis' dagger. The dark lord flies forward to tackle the Jedi Prince, but Arthas is able to push him off before using the Force to bring Mal'Ganis back to him and stabs him in the shoulder with his lightsaber. Mal'Ganis kicked him back and blasts him with force lightning, which Arthas' barely blocked.
"Impressive. You show some promise after all, boy. Let's see how strong your resolve really is" Mal'Ganis said before retreating further in to the city.
Refusing to let his hated enemy escape, Arthas chased after him, cutting through several undead on the way. While all this was happening, Nova watched as the city, utterly horrified. She thought she had steeled herself for this, but she couldn't bring herself to aid in this this massacre. All she could do was kill those who had already turned, but nothing more. As the remaining civilians were being killed, Arthas caught up with Mal'Ganis, who was waiting for him.
"The deed is done Mal'Ganis. Now we're gonna settle this, just you and me" Arthas said in a dark and tone full of hate.
"Brave words. Unfortunately for you, it won't end here. Your journey has just begun, young jedi. Gather your forces and meet me on the frozen moon of Northrend. It is there that we shall settle this score between us. It is there that your true destiny will unfold" Mal'Ganis said before he vanished.
"I'll hunt you to the ends of the galaxy if I have to! Do you hear me? To the ends of the galaxy!" Arthas shouts, unleashing his rage and fury.
Arthas' first and biggest step towards the dark side and been taken... and Nova now realized she made a grave mistake.
.
Tell me what you think.