Saving Azeroth (By Stealing the Black Dragon Princess) - 32

Chapter 32: Kael'thas's Plea for Help

[TL NOTE: Alternate Universe Divergences:

• In this timeline, Kael'thas was present in Quel'Thalas during the Scourge invasion.

• Wyrmrest Temple was discovered and accessible earlier than in canon.

• Events may differ from Warcraft 3/WoW lore for story purposes.]

***

Beneath Wyrmrest Temple's ancient dome, the sacred flames burned quietly, illuminating Alexstrasza's crimson hair like flowing molten gold. She was bent over a dragon egg, life flame gently flowing in her palm, checking the whelp's vital pulse within the shell with maternal care.

Suddenly, hurried footsteps echoed from outside the temple, accompanied by crisp metallic collision sounds—like someone dragging a large sack of gold coins racing across stone slabs.

"Lady Alexstrasza! I came to see you!"

Chromie's small face peeked from the doorframe, golden pigtails disheveled from running. She dragged a burlap sack almost bigger than herself, stamped with the prominent "Blackwing Fertilizer" trademark. Gold coins leaked from the bottom, clinking and rolling across the polished floor.

The Red Dragon Queen slowly straightened, dragon eyes narrowing slightly. "Chromie? You... what is this?"

"Haven't visited in so long! This is a gift for you." The bronze dragon girl excitedly dragged the sack to the temple's center, dumping everything out with a tremendous crash—

Piles of gold coins rolled everywhere across the floor, glittering in the sacred firelight.

Dalaran specialty magical candies, wrapping paper decorated with dancing little stars.

Dwarven spirits, cork stoppers carved with "Blackwing Special Supply."

Several brand-new Azeroth Hero Legends picture books, with covers depicting exaggerated dragons battling demons in vivid colors.

Several red dragon whelps originally napping peacefully in their nests all perked up their ears, small noses twitching at the sweet scent in the air.

Alexstrasza's dignified expression froze unusually.

"Chromie..." Her voice carried confused concern. "What is this about? Bringing so many gifts suddenly—do you need a favor?"

"No, no!" Chromie stood on tiptoes, hanging a necklace strung with shiny glass beads on the nearest small red dragon's head. "Recently I earned some money! Thought since we're all dragonkind, good fortune should be shared!"

The small red dragon blinked curiously, extending tiny claws to touch the glowing beads on its head, clutching them possessively before happily rolling over.

Seeing this, other whelps immediately swarmed forward with excited chirps—some pawing at candies with claws, some trying to bite bottle corks open with sharp teeth, others flying around the temple with picture books clenched in jaws, pages fluttering wildly.

Watching this sudden chaotic scene, Alexstrasza's normally dignified lips twitched slightly. She reached out, catching a picture book falling from midair, opening to a page depicting the Red Dragon Queen battling a Dreadlord in an exaggerated illustration, with flowery text reading "Life-Binder Saves the World!"

"These..." The Red Dragon Queen's voice suddenly softened. "Who drew them?"

Chromie was busy rescuing a dented wine bottle from a whelp's enthusiastic mouth, not looking up. "The human world spreads stories of guardian dragons saving the world. Quite popular!"

Alexstrasza's fingertips lightly caressed the pages, suddenly laughing softly with genuine warmth.

"How interesting." She gently placed the picture book beside the sacred flames, where whelps' "treasures" were already piled—several shiny scales, an oddly shaped stone, now with an added childish hero story.

"Next time..." The Red Dragon Queen paused, eyes flashing with playful cunning. "Bring more sequels."

"Sure, sure, no problem!" Chromie played enthusiastically with the whelps. "Later I'm visiting Ysera too."

"Oh, isn't she sleeping?" The Red Dragon Queen asked curiously.

"Gift-giving is about the thought that counts! Having others pass it along works just fine," Chromie said cheerfully.

"Hmm? You truly don't need my help with anything?" The Red Dragon Queen asked again, her tone suspicious.

"No need, truly no need." Fearing further questions, Chromie quickly made her escape. "I'm off to find Ysera now!"

"Strange child!" Alexstrasza watched Chromie's retreating figure with amused affection.

Theramore Isle—Secluded Beach

The beach baked hot under the noon sun, soft white sand flowing between Deren's toes. He floated face-up on the sea surface, straw hat covering his face, belly balancing half a glass of pineapple juice with a tiny umbrella.

"This is life..."

Before his contented sigh finished, he was suddenly blasted by a high-pressure water jet.

Splash!

Deren tumbled into the sea with limbs akimbo, straw hat and juice cup tracing graceful parabolas through air. When he furiously surfaced sputtering, the culprit sat on an inflatable crocodile laughing hysterically—

Onyxia wore a pitch-black bikini, the dragon-scale-patterned swimsuit gleaming pearl-like in sunlight. She languidly crossed her legs, fingertips still wreathed with undispersed water magic fluctuations.

"The weak need constant rest." Her red lips curved dangerously, fingertips hooking—another water tornado formed beneath Deren's feet.

"Cheating! This is cheating!" Deren flailed trying to escape, yet was spun like a top by swirling water currents. "We agreed no magic!"

Splash!

Chromie suddenly emerged from underwater, frog goggles hung with dripping seaweed. She grabbed Deren's swim trunks waistband mischievously. "Time acceleration—"

"Ah—Chromie, you brat! My pants!" Deren desperately covered his lower half with one hand, the other reaching frantically for his trunks in Chromie's grasp.

Suddenly arcane blue light flashed—a portal appearing on the beach.

All three figures instantly froze.

Whoosh!

Blue light materialized Jaina's figure on the beach. Theramore's ruler wore formal robes today, golden hair impeccably pinned up, hand holding meeting minutes—perfectly witnessing Deren bare-bottomed burrowing into sand, Onyxia instantly transforming to dragon form and flashing aside, and Chromie pretending to be an innocent message bottle.

"Am I interrupting something?"

"No! Perfect timing!" Deren's voice came muffled from the sandpile. "Quick, what's the urgent matter?!"

Jaina took a deep breath, forcibly diverting her gaze from this embarrassing farce. "Kael'thas Sunstrider arrived at Theramore. Quel'Thalas defense line has collapsed. He requests immediate support."

Splash!

Onyxia instantly resumed her high elf form, walking from the sea, water droplets sliding down her perfect curves, beach sand automatically forming a dry corridor under her dragon aura.

"Should've said so earlier." She snapped her fingers—a black formal gown appeared on her body. "Let that elven prince wait while I change properly."

Deren finally pulled his head from the sandpile. "Wait! Where are my pants?!"

The Council Meeting

Theramore council hall's blue velvet curtains were completely drawn, leaving only the crystal chandelier casting cold light. Kael'thas Sunstrider stood before the long table, slender fingers pressed on the spread map, fingertips trembling visibly.

His once sun-bright golden hair was now dull and lightless, tips even bearing scorch marks. The phoenix emblem shoulder guard bore a hideous crack, revealing unhealed burns beneath—clear traces of arcane backlash.

"Dar'Khan betrayed us."

The elven prince's voice sounded like sandpaper scraping metal. His finger traced Silvermoon City's magical projection—the image suddenly distorted, revealing dense undead tides.

"He gave the Sunwell's defensive runes to Arthas... Now the Scourge is attacking Silvermoon City's final barrier. They won't hold much longer."

"Theramore's military is insufficient to support across the sea." Jaina said softly, her gaze sweeping Kael'thas's cracked nails—signs of severe mana depletion from excessive spellcasting.

Kael'thas looked up sharply, desperation in his eyes almost materializing as flames. "But you have allies!" His robe sleeve slipped, revealing unhealed binding spell scars on his wrist. "Black dragons, bronze dragons, even that..."

The council hall door suddenly burst open with force.

Deren stumbled in, pant legs still bearing sand, necktie crooked around his neck. Onyxia followed behind, high heels clicking dangerously on the marble floor.

"The 'agricultural advisor' arrived." The Black Dragon Princess said with a half-smile, fingertips toying with a strand of black hair.

Kael'thas's Adam's apple bobbed nervously. Elven innate pride made him instinctively straighten his back, yet Deren noticed his boot soles bore mud—this prince likely fled here using basic teleportation spells, too rushed to even cast cleansing magic.

"Arthas's next target is Quel'Thalas." Kael'thas forced himself to be calm, finger pointing at the map. "If the Sunwell falls and is converted into an undead energy source..."

Onyxia suddenly laughed softly, interrupting the elven prince. "What do we gain from this?"

The council hall fell into brief, uncomfortable silence, with only Kael'thas's rapid breathing clearly audible. The elven prince's knuckles whitened from excessive force, pressing visible wrinkles into the map.

Deren added bluntly, "Prince Kael'thas, I have a question." His voice unusually shed its usual playfulness, appearing exceptionally serious. "The undead Scourge has ravaged Lordaeron so long—where are the red dragons, bronze dragons, green dragons—those so-called 'guardian dragons'?"

Kael'thas looked up sharply, surprise flashing in his eyes.

"They haven't moved. Why should black dragons charge into battle?" Deren continued. "Moreover, high elves voluntarily withdrew from the Alliance back then. Now in crisis, you suddenly remember to seek human help?"

Onyxia's lips curved slightly, clearly satisfied with Deren's bluntness.

Kael'thas's complexion grew paler, yet pride instinctively made him retort. "The Sunwell is Quel'dorei's thousand-year civilization crystallization! If corrupted by the Scourge—"

"That's your problem." Deren interrupted. "Elven nobles indulged in magical pleasures, binding the entire race's fate to one well. Now the well's collapsing, you suddenly remember to call for help?"

Jaina frowned slightly but didn't speak—Deren was right, just brutally direct.

"So..." Kael'thas's voice trembled slightly. "Theramore will watch us die?"

"No." Deren shook his head. "We can help evacuate people."

He walked to the map, finger tracing a line between Silvermoon City and Dalaran. "Evacuate to Dalaran—closest, fastest route. Now you have two options."

"First, evacuate only nobles and officers. Can open portals immediately, but civilians and soldiers fend for themselves."

Kael'thas's pupils suddenly contracted.

"Second, large-scale evacuation." Deren's fingertip pointed to wastelands around Theramore. "But it requires an elven military rear guard, Dalaran handles mass teleportation arrays, and black dragons handle peripheral containment—and everyone must have evacuation rights, not just gold-draped noble council lords."

Onyxia suddenly laughed darkly. "Choose, Prince. Preserve your 'noble bloodline,' or leave Quel'dorei true seeds for the future?"

Kael'thas's hand pressed his chest where a phoenix badge was pinned—the Sunstrider royal symbol. His gaze swept to Jaina, who nodded lightly.

"We choose the second option." The elven prince's voice was hoarse yet firm. "But the Sunwell... someone must destroy it."

Deren's face showed a bitter smile. "Can only choose one—either evacuate people or destroy the Sunwell. Can't have all benefits. Decide for yourself. Otherwise try finding someone else to help?"

Kael'thas's expression couldn't hold composure. Wanting to argue, he finally swallowed it. "Then evacuate people. The Sunwell's on the outskirts, already occupied by undead. Now only Silvermoon City still defends. Hope we can evacuate as many as possible."

"Then act quickly. Time is short. What about payment?" Deren finally asked the prince directly. "Can't possibly provide manpower and resources for rescuing people without compensation, right?"

Kael'thas smiled bitterly. "Put everything on my account. Find me for reimbursement later. If not possible, mortgage Silvermoon City first. The land won't run away."

Deren considered briefly, nodding agreement. "Fine, mortgage both Silvermoon City and the Sunwell to me. Silvermoon evacuation begins immediately."