Pink Rose [1]

"I...I Need New Friends"

Quest Objective: Flee your home. 

Anduin and Wrathion were gone. The light that carried them away dissipated in the air, the room fading back to dim torchlight.

Garrosh loomed over me with Gorehowl in hand.

The air shrieked. The crystal in my pocket grew cold. I raised my arm.

Gorehowl stopped inches from my face. My crystal made contact with the handle and ice tricked up the blade.

Garrosh leaned close. Only the weapon stood between us. I blinked when he exhaled and hot air fanned my face.

"You've got something on your nose." He said.

My gaze turned cross-eyed and a blurry image of my pink nose came into view—pink. Wrath's makeup came off. The x-shaped mark on my nose.

My remark on how it got there died in my throat. Garrosh's gaze trickled down to the crystal in my hand. "Remember when I said you should use those the next time you spar with Maiev, so you would be safe?"

My fingers readjusted on the crystal. We hadn't spoken about Outland in months. That nightmare had to stay buried to escape the current one.

My arms were starting to shake. I wouldn't last long.

"Remember when you said you were afraid of my mom?" My voice was shaky.

"And where is she now?"

Gone. She was gone a long time ago. I would never get her back.

Would she even avenge me if I died here? Would she come? Would she look into those golden firefly eyes and confront him?

I staggered back and stumbled into the wall. There was no room for error. I fled the hall, parchment crumpled in my fist. And I thought about who would be there if I died, running through my own home.

I grappled for another crystal as I met the kor'kron at the entrance. Smoke sizzled. Guards stumbled and coughed. I kept running. The same set of footsteps followed me.

Kalec would be there. He'd probably be in charge of my financial affairs. I never made a will. When my father died, I told him he could choose what to do with everything. He might send it to my mother. I hope he uses my money to buy a casino in Bilgewater. Or take Jaina out on a really expensive date.

The front entrance was too guarded. I scrambled up the ramp, towards the valleys of wisdom and spirit. There was a portal by the tauren's camp.

The guard who would go home to her wife soon gaped at me as I approached. One pair of footsteps still followed from behind.

Sylvanas would go. She'd probably bring me back. Then kill me for dying. Then bring me back so we could have more brunches together. That would be okay, I guess. If my body is in well enough shape...

The guard raised her axe. I fumbled for another crystal in my coat pocket. The fur was slowing me down.

The shard landed at her feet. She howled as electricity spat through her body. I cringed from her cries as I passed her and scrambled up the ramp.

Would Khadgar leave Outland to see me? It's been so many years. I wonder if he remembers me. I hope he does. All those adventurers that visit him...do they know who that mage is? Or would it be just some random old man with a beard? Would that stranger be there?

The slanted terrain burned my calves. Air whistled through my aching lungs. Somewhere nearby, people were shouting. I was nearly halfway there.

Andy...oh shit, I can't die, can I? Dammit. There is no funeral at the end of this.

I sped forward, quicker than I ever had. The dull orange surrounding me blurred. There was an urgency to my movements, like when Wrathion was still an egg and Deathwing hovered over us as I sped across the Eastern Kingdoms. But it was different. I was home. I knew where I was going.

The blurry image of purple leaves filled my vision as I flung myself towards it.

~*~

I didn't recall the tug of the portal or sprinting by the Cenarion Circle-appointed guards. A numb lightness took over me. I found myself hiding under the railing as Ysera weaved magic over the lake of Nordrassil.

I slowly gained enough courage to over at her. I didn't know if she was aware of my presence, or if she would acknowledge it. The papers were still crumpled in my fist. I didn't have the strength to unfurl my fingers yet.

The hum of magic filled the air and settled in my bones. There was too much lightness, rising up to dizziness. Eventually I unfolded from my crouch and crossed my legs on the wooden floor. The railing was uneven and hard against my back. I forced myself to stare at the water, a supposedly calming view, to speed up whatever I was waiting for.

Anduin should be safe. Wrathion's hearthstone was to the tavern in the mists. I already regretted bringing him to the most dangerous place on Azeroth, my home. But he wasn't in pain. Not as a blood elf. Because he wasn't himself. My eyes burned at the realization.

I gazed at the lake and imagined Anduin's eyes.

Eventually I sorted the wrinkled parchment. It had strict details on unsavory weapons and monstrosities that Garrosh was hiding. It was exactly what I wanted. But I still couldn't stand.

"Did you get what you sought?" Ysera's tone was so soft and surreal it was the bare flutter of a whisper.

She didn't look at me. Her white gaze fixated upon the ball of energy before her, searching through the Emerald Dream. The hum of her magics nearly drowned her voice.

"Yes," I said.

She paused, long enough for me to rethink my answer. "But..."

"Everything before the word 'but' is nothing." She murmured. Her slender violet fingers continued to gesture in the air, directing currents of energy.

"I want to help someone. I searched everywhere I possibly could, everything..." I shoved the papers to the side and stared at the lake again.

"But."

I looked up. Ysera still stared ahead. "You haven't tried everything."

"What else is there to try?" I asked.

Ysera squinted. "Every mind visits the Dream. I see glimpses of the world through a kaleidoscope. He comes from a powerful family, but he's not the only one."

When I remained silent, she continued. "My sister loves love."

My knees locked up. Alexstrasza. The strongest person I knew. The most powerful on Azeroth, presumably. She was also the most powerful healer.

But.

"What are you proposing?" I pulled my knees to my chest.

"A proposal is what I'm proposing."

"...What does that even mean? What's with all the wordplay?" I protested.

"No one talks to me anymore. They assume I sleep all day..."

"Who sleeps standing up?"

"Thank you—! I...I need new friends. Or just friends. A friend...how long are you planning on staying here for, by the way?"