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Chapter Text

Onyxia felt something small impact her as she entered the grand chamber. She leaned down and idly scooped up the whelp, settling him onto her hip easily as she strode towards the other occupants. He giggled, tiny limbs hugging her tightly.

"Katrana, it is good to see you." Varian rumbled from atop his throne, his wolfish eyes watching her intensely as she carried his son. The blonde next to him smiled gently, greeting her with a nod. She felt her face smile back involuntarily, returning the greetings with a half-curtsey as Anduin snuggled into her side. She approached the throne, heels clacking on the worn slabs that she'd tread many times before.

"It is good to be back, your highnesses." She surprised herself with how much she meant it, having found herself growing fond of the mortals under her care. Her mission had been abandoned a long time ago and been replaced with one of her own - to protect her mortal charges from the machinations of the Black Dragonflight. Anduin cooing distracted her from her thoughts, the dragon turning to kiss his forehead gently. "I missed you too, little one." The toddler gurgled something vaguely similar to her name, which caused her smile to grow even wider as she finally took her place beside Tiffin.

"How did negotiations with the stonemasons go, Kat?" Varian was wasting absolutely no time today, it seemed.

"They agreed to come directly to me from now on, and our offer of paying the rest of our dues over the next year was accepted." The king breathed a sigh of relief, settling back into the throne she hadn't realised he was perched on the edge of. "Unfortunately, the same cannot be said of all of the noble houses. Several of the more problematic families have decided to withdraw their funding of the projects completely, leaving our hands tied." He groaned, pinching the bridge of his nose. She knew the man well, she liked to think, and knew that he despised the politicking that happened in the chambers of his palace. "So far we still have enough for the rest of the payments, but if one or two more houses withdraw, we're up shit creek." Tiffin tutted at her language, leaning over and flicking her shoulder. The dragon shot her a look, before the pair devolved into giggles. The young prince peeled away from Onyxia slightly, reaching for his mother. He was promptly transferred from the dragon's hip to his mother's lap, but not before she snuck another kiss on her favourite nephew.

"If I didn't know any better I'd say you were planning to steal my son." Tiffin teased, smirking at the dragon. Any other mortal would have been incinerated for a comment like that, but she had decided she liked these ones, somehow. Rather more than her family, at that.

"Why would I steal him, my dear sister? The best part is being able to cuddle a baby and give him back." The blonde laughed her musical laugh, draining the rest of the tension in the room away. It was unusual that Onyxia had forgotten something, but she and Tiffin had been referring to each other as siblings for years now. Neither knew when or why it started, but they absolutely didn't want it to stop. "How has the little one been?" She decided to shift the conversation away from the talk of politics and brewing riots, instead pivoting back to her family.

"He has been well, very well, actually. He's learned a few words while you were away in Westfall, too." The royals were beaming with pride at their little prince's progress, and Onyxia found herself joining them. They were interrupted, however, when a haggard looking soldier jogged into the keep, his chest heaving under his breastplate.

"Your... Highnesses. The stonemason's guild has been attacked by a mercenary company." The dragon surged forwards, all decorum forgotten as she propped the soldier up. "My thanks, Lady Prestor. It was one of the smaller ones, but we don't have the men to stop them from attacking again." The dragon looked up at Varian, the man's face hard with worry. He nodded at her, steel eyes meeting violet.

"Lady Prestor, I assume you can act as my envoy in this?" Onyxia nodded, calling her staff to her free hand. "Thank you. Sargeant, catch your breath. I need you to tell me everything while the Lady liaises with the guild." The soldier sucked in a shuddering breath, straightening his back as best he could. He quietly thanked the dragon as he stood on his own, the woman withdrawing.

"It is a shame I could not spend more time with you, Your Highnesses." The rest went unsaid as she ripped open a portal to the stonemason's guild, stepping through with no fanfare.

The guildhall was a mess, bloody and broken men laid on every available surface. The leader surged towards her, eyes blazing with righteous anger.

"You said we had a deal, Prestor!" He roared, far too close for comfort as the portal closed behind her.

"We do, Edwin. The King is preparing his response as we speak." The man's glare softened a fraction of a fraction, but he didn't relent. "And I am here to prevent any further attacks." She puffed up her chest and let the butt of her staff clang against the floor. Edwin growled, before his shoulders dropped slightly. Onyxia breathed a sigh of relief as his hostility was replaced by weary gratefulness. She was glad mortals were fickle, sometimes, as a dragon would not have backed down with such simple reassurances.

"I... Apologies, Katrana." She nodded graciously, conjuring a flask of water to her free hand. The man took it, chugging the icy liquid gratefully. "We're all shaken up, as you can imagine. We didn't go down easy but..." Onyxia flinched, her face softening compassionately. Her father would have scolded her for that, she thought, but her father was a lunatic corrupted by the shadowflame.

"I understand, Edwin. Go, rest, I will ensure no more good men die today." The mason barked a laugh, his hard face softening a little.

"I assume bad men are fair game, then?"

"Always, my dear friend. Now go." She shooed him away, striding towards the main doors of the modest guildhall. She slipped through, past the guardsmen that were watching it like a hawk. She stopped, however, turning to face the men. "Did you gather any descriptions of the attackers? Particularly their leader."

The men nodded, one pulling a notepad from his pocket. He pulled the pencil from it's bindings and flicked to the most recent page, offering it to Onyxia.

-------------

Onyxia smashed the locked door open, the splintered wood clattering to the ground several feet from where it started. The mercenaries gathered around the main banqueting table all turned to look at her, shouting and hollering as they rose from their seats.

"Enough!" She silenced them all with a slam of her staff, a simple binding spell locking the mercenaires in place as she strode into the barracks. It had been easier to find than she feared, but it was still too far from the Mason's guild for comfort. She had to make this quick. "I am here as the envoy of His Royal Highness King Varian Wrynn. You are mercenaries, and I wish to know who hired you."

"Never broken a contract before, Prestor. And the king's whore ain't gonna make me now." A grizzled voice spoke from above her, from a balcony she hadn't seen. She cursed her sloppiness, raising her staff once more. "Now, now, I'm sure we can find a... Mutually pleasurable resolution for this predicament." She bristled at the insinuation, feeling her scales crawl up her back and across her shoulders.

"Or I can just kill you all and take the contract from your lifeless corpse." She met his eyes, allowing herself a moment to prepare her spell.

"Hah! One mage against my lads? They'll gut you where you stand. I like your guts, bitch, but the only way you get that contract out of me is on. Your. Knees." A simple flick of her staff bound the braggart, lifting him down to the table with the rest of the mercenaries. She had noticed that among a lot of the sellsword organisations that had sprung up in the aftermath of the war, this kind of man was quick to exploit the surge of trained soldiers to get his kicks. She gazed around the room, finding what she was searching for at the back. A full-plate clad soldier with a golden hammer strapped to their back. She slowly approached, removing the helmet with a twitch of her finger.

The woman stared at her with wide eyes, her fair complexion marred by countless scars. She kept an eye on the leader as she gently traced the largest blemish, leaning close enough to feel the woman's breath.

"My, isn't she a pretty one. I wager you have had intentions with her for a long time." The man tried to struggle, his face going red from the effort. She released the binding on the woman, her staff held to her gorget as a needle of arcane energy formed at its' tip. The woman swallowed audibly, raising her hands in surrender. "Has that man tried to have his way with you?" A nod. "Did he succeed?" A shake of the head. Good. "Do you wish to be free of your contract with this company?" Another nod, this one more desperate than the first. "Tell me who hired you and where he keeps the paper contracts, and I will see to it that yours is lost." She pointed to a room just off the main hall, swallowing nervously. "As a reminder, my dear, I could easily kill everyone in this room should someone give me a reason."

"I won't." The woman hissed, the terror in her eyes so apparent that Onyxia felt a twinge of guilt. She lowered her staff, taking long strides towards the door. Inside was a dirty office, with a safe against one wall and several piles of dusty paperwork scattered around. On the table that must have served as a desk sat a very fresh contract, signed by many mercenary leaders she knew for their less than stellar reputations. There, on the bottom, was everything she needed. Lanford. A house she'd dealt with before, and one she knew would be a thorn in her side. She picked up the parchment, rolling it tight and sealing it into an arcane crystal. A flick of her wrist teleported it to Varian's study, where she knew he would be as he wrote his speech.

She blasted open the lock on the safe, several sacks of gold coins present on it's lone shelf, with the bottom taken up by a thick book packed with loose leaves of parchment. She lifted it free and flicked through it, finding her target quickly. It was shocking how few recruits a man like their leader gathered. So very shocking.

Aura Tiller, thirty four years of age. A former paladin of the silver hand with an impressive track record, wasted on a lecherous old man. She pocketed the contract, striding out into the room proper.

"Paladin Tiller, we're leaving. The rest of you can expect a visit from the guards in the next hour. Hope you don't need to pee." She shot a venomous smile at the leader, before taking the Paladin's hand in her own and leading her out of the hall. "So, Miss Tiller. How did a venerated Paladin end up working for that wretched thing?"

"I 'ad no choice, m'Lady. Some toff had me sign somethin' written in a script I couldn't read, and boom." Onyxia nodded, squeezing the gauntlet in her hand.

"Well, luckily for you, I could read it. It merely says you are bound to the person who holds the physical contract, not to any one person." Aura gasped, her head whipping around to look the dragon in the face. "And I think you will find me a much more agreeable employer, Miss Tiller." They had managed to leave the small hamlet the feasting hall was in during their short discussion, the tall women making good headway. "How are you with portals?"

"Any more than one a day and I get really sick, m'Lady." Onyxia hummed a little, formulating her agenda before speaking once more.

"You will accompany me to the keep, where you will relay your experience to the High Judge. I will not be there, unfortunately, but she is a fair and kind woman you can trust. I will retrieve you later, and we will travel to my estate by foot." The Paladin nodded, her helmet rattling against her gorget. Onyxia wasted no time, opening the way to the keep's portal room. The pair hurried through onto the white marble dais that redirected all incoming portals, where Aura had to catch her breath. A few moments of laboured breathing passed before she could stand upright, but she gestured for the dragon to resume leading her when she had recovered from her portal sickness.

Onyxia took her hand once more, leading her through the maze of corridors towards what could only be described as a man roaring. They finally reached the source, a grand door of black stained wood with a gilded relief of an eagle. She felt the woman tense, but before she could reassure her the door was wrenched open by a furious-looking Varian.

"Katrana, you really blew the doors off this time." His tone was grateful, even though his face betrayed the storm within. "Come see me when you are able, we have to discuss a purge." The dragon nodded softly before he stormed off in search of a training dummy to demolish. She looked back at Aura, the woman seeming shellshocked under her bucket.

"Come, let me introduce you to Judge Forrester before I meet with His Highness." The woman nodded, allowing the dragon to lead her into the lavish study.

Chapter Text

Onyxia finally found Varian in one of the training rooms buried deep in the keep's bowels, surrounded by the remains of one of the practice dummies. He turned as she entered the room, straightening his overcoat.

"Is your witness settled with Forrester?" She nodded, meeting his gaze evenly.

"She should be very forthcoming, Paladins are rarely ones to let wrongs lie." She pondered for a moment before continuing. "However; she is, due to circumstances beyond her control, bound to whomever holds this contract." She produced the scroll, holding it tightly. "And as a Paladin, her oath is law. Will this be an issue for our path forward?"

"No, though it is a valuable piece of evidence. I trust you will keep it secure?" Onyxia nodded, replacing the scroll in one of her robe's pockets. "Now, on to the matter of the Lanfords." Varian growled, turning away from the dragon and pacing. "As much as I would like to make an example out of them, it is abundantly clear to me now that the nobles hold enough sway over my kingdom to oust me, should they wish."

"So no mysterious dragon-related incidents, noted." She smiled mischievously, the king allowing a soft huff of amusement before returning to his train of thought.

"Forrester believes that, with enough time, she can construct a case solid enough to destroy the Lanford family without earning the ire of the other noble houses." He was pacing still, scattering debris from the dummy as he circled the room. "I assume you kept records of all previous interactions with the Lanfords?"

"Of course, Forrester should know where they are. If not, or if they have been misappropriated, there are copies with both SI7 and in my secure archives." Varian nodded, huffing loudly as he came to a standstill.

"You are dismissed, Katrana. I need more time to think." Varian peered across the room at her, a vaguely apologetic expression on his face. "The safety of that witness is now your responsibility, you understand?"

"Of course, your highness." The king nodded, gesturing to the door. Onyxia curtseyed before turning to leave, her heels clacking against the worn stones of the keep. She made her way back through the web of corridors, eventually arriving before the entrance to the High Judge's study once more. The sharp raps of her knuckles caught the occupant's attention, the woman calling for her to enter.

The Judge sat at the desk against the far wall, her eyes burning with determination even as her body slumped against the chair. The woman radiated exhaustion, but Onyxia knew her well enough to never underestimate the sharpness of her mind.

"How is His Majesty?"

"Stressed beyond belief and hiding in the training room. How are you, Efi?" Forrester made no attempt to sit up, instead reaching for a steaming mug of that foul-smelling Kul Tiran drink the humans loved to use as an alternative for rest. She drank deeply, only attempting to answer when she'd drained the mug.

"I feel like I've not slept since this whole situation with the Stonemason's Guild kicked off, and I just finished my coffee. On the other hand, I'm not dead, so there's that." She ran a hand over her face, pushing a few stray curls back into position with a sigh. Onyxia finally turned to Aura, the Paladin having been quietly observing the exchange. "In better news, your new hire has given me enough evidence to dismantle her former employer's mercenary outfit."

"Thank the Light." Aura's voice was more relaxed now, a deep, reassuring rumble that immediately stilled the dragon's racing mind. “But what about the contract?” Onyxia looked at Forrester expectantly, studying the woman’s face as she responded.

“Let me have a look, there’s every chance that I can nullify it due to the way you described signing it.” Onyxia passed the scroll to the judge, who then pinned it open with paperweights that were scattered across her desk. The next ten minutes passed in silence as the woman read, her face unmoving. She sucked a breath in through her teeth before turning to Aura with a grimace. “It’s a fair contract, as far as I can tell. We could maybe, maybe push back on the principle of you not being able to read it, but the majority of folks in the kingdom are illiterate, despite our good King’s ambitions.” Aura sighed, rubbing her face before she turned to Onyxia.

“I guess you’re my boss for the foreseeable future, then.” Onyxia frowned, causing her brows to furrow as she pinched the bridge of her nose.

“Can’t I just revoke the contract, Efi?”

“You could, but the severance clause is fairly watertight. Anything she could do to trigger it would also be against the oaths she took when she became a Paladin.” Those deep brown eyes met hers again, one brow inching upwards as a flicker of annoyance ran through her body. “Truthfully, if you hadn’t shown me this, you could have burned it and left everyone none the wiser.” A wordless grunt of frustration escaped the dragon as she paced, running a hand through her hair.

"Lady Prestor, it's not a problem. Honestly." The dragon peered down at the Paladin curiously, chewing her bottom lip. "As long as I'm fed, watered and have a roof over my head, I'll be fine. And I doubt you could be any worse a boss than my last one."

"Hah." Her laugh was mirthless, the Paladin having no idea how wrong she could be. "Well. Either way, we need to depart for my estate imminently." Forrester rolled the contract tightly before holding it out to the dragon. Onyxia took it, returning the parchment to one of her robe's pockets gingerly. Aura rose to her feet, settling into a soldier's stance as their eyes met. Onyxia went blank for a few seconds, transfixed by the sapphire orbs that eclipsed her world.

"Well, it's been good to meet you, Miss Tiller." Forrester rose to her feet, smiling across at the pair as she broke the spell.

"Uh, likewise, High Judge Forrester." The Paladin gave an awkward half-bow, looking to the dragon for guidance.

"Thank you for this, Efi. I know you're busy with the Stonemason's Guild."

"Miss Tiller is a first-hand witness to the attacks, letting her slip through the cracks could jeopardise the whole case." She bowed slightly, gesturing towards the doors to her office. "Now, it has been lovely to see you, but I still have a pile of work to get through."

“I shan’t keep you then. Have a good evening, Efi.” Onyxia curtseyed, turning to leave. Aura followed, her plate armour clanking as she strode out of the room. “I do hope you will forgive me for my oversight, but my home has no staff quarters. You will have to make do with one of the guest rooms, I’m afraid.” The dragon chuckled a little at her joke as she led the Paladin towards the massive entrance hall.

“Ah, what a terrible shame. I was so excited to return to sleeping on a straw mattress with a sheet that you could use to scour crockery clean.” The pair lapsed into a comfortable silence, their footsteps echoing around them as they passed out of the keep into the grand courtyard. It was a relatively quiet evening in the city, with most residents corralled inside their homes or the various inns that dotted its streets. “I assume you have an estate somewhere nearby, Lady Prestor?”

“Indeed, though I’d hardly call it an ‘estate’ by any means. I own one of the larger homes nearby, just a scant few minutes by foot.”

The dragon knew, almost instinctively, that her life would be forever changed by the woman she was leading through the city.

-----

"But I won't be of any use, my Lady. I'm just a humble paladin." Aura sat across from Onyxia, nervously drumming her fingers on the tabletop. The dragon watched with a little amusement, before stilling the movement with a gentle touch.

"That is exactly why you will be of use in the courts, Aura. There will be issues you don't understand, of course, but that is the point." She retracted her hand, fingers lingering on the Paladin's for slightly longer than necessary. A flicker of disappointment appeared on Aura's face as their hands parted. "We cannot afford to lose sight of the plights of the average subject, lest we incite rebellion and violence."

"I... Didn't think of it that way, my Lady." The paladin nodded contemplatively, before returning to the parchment in front of her. "But what does this have to do with that?" Onyxia rose, circling the table until she stood over Aura's shoulder. The new contract that she had drafted sat there, ink still very slightly wet.

"Well, since you are to be working for me in more capacities than just mercenary work, I decided to draft a more appropriate contract. One that you can actually read." She leaned close, her hair brushing over the Paladin's shoulder. "Here, it states; 'Henceforth, the Employee shall be granted full use of the Employer's resources to ensure their ability to complete tasks given.' That means you can ask any of my staff for help, be it with your martial training, prayer, or even tutoring." She leaned a little closer, pointing to a later clause. "And here; 'The Employee is to use their discretion when carrying out tasks given to them by the Employer, up to and including refusing illegal or immoral actions.' That is self explanatory, really." Aura was red as a beet when the dragon turned to look at her, not realising just how close they were. She straightened herself, her cheeks feeling like they were being filled with molten lava.

"This is way too generous, Lady Prestor!" Onyxia felt a sad smile form on her face, gently resting a hand on Aura's shoulder. She shook her head as their eyes met.

"I wouldn't say that, Aura. I just felt that you should be provided with everything you need to aid me."

"But I'm no courtier or noble, why wouldn't you hire someone like that? Skip teaching me all'a this." She still looked a little confused, worrying at her lip absentmindedly. The dragon sat on the edge of the table, turning so she was facing Aura once again.

"Because I am both of those things, Aura. What I need is a different perspective, one of the average person. It would also be imprudent of me to allow your sharp mind to go to waste as mere hired muscle." Onyxia smiled down at her as she combed through her black hair idly. "And besides, it would displease me greatly if you ever felt your contract to be too restrictive." Aura nodded softly, a small smile appearing on her face. Onyxia's mind was immediately filled with images of that smile, preserved from stolen glances in the month Aura had been working for her. Such a wonderful soul, she thought. Her hand reached out and gently ruffled the short blonde hair of her friend, causing them both to laugh.

"I know I say it a ton, but... Thanks for getting me out of there, Lady P." She let her hand slip from the tousled blonde locks, resting it on the Paladin's shoulder.

"You can call me Katrana. I owe you that much, at least." She very quickly realised her mistake as the well-used muscles of the woman's shoulder flexed and bunched under her fingertips as she turned to look up at the dragon, the flush spreading to her ears and neck before she could remove her hand.

"I should finish reading this, I guess. Thanks for everything, Katrana." Onyxia slowly removed her hand as she felt the blood rushing to her skin in an attempt to turn red as an apple.

"Of course. I'll be in the library if you need anything, Aura." She walked out of the dining room, taking one last, lingering look over her shoulder at Aura. Her blue eyes flicked up to meet the dragon's, causing a smile to spread across both of their faces.

-----

Aura grunted with effort as she dodged the swinging arm of the dummy, the rudimentary wooden object spinning in its base. She ducked the shield arm, before sweeping her warhammer up into the hay-stuffed chest. The dummy rocked for a little while, finally having ceased spinning thanks to the massive blow. From her seat nearby, Onyxia could see the way the Paladin's shoulders slumped under her armour as she drew deep, needy breaths.

"Aura, dear, I believe it might be time to retire for now?" She spoke gently, rising to her feet. The dishevelled Paladin removed her helm and skullcap before turning, the sight of which nearly sent Onyxia into shock. Her sweat had matted her hair down, and her face glowed with the heat of exertion. It was all the dragon could do to stand and stare, the remaining shreds of her rational mind desperately fighting the urge to do unspeakable things to her retainer.

"I look that bad, huh? My apologies." The woman gave a half-curtsey, smirking up at the dragon with a knowing look. "I'll go get cleaned up, then." She swept past Onyxia, one of her gauntleted hands gently tangling with her own for a split second, causing a great surge of feelings within the dragon. She entered the home, the clanks of her armoured form retreating towards the armoury and washroom.

"Control yourself, Kat. Let her initiate it. Don't take advantage." She returned to her seat, letting the cool evening air soothe her burning cheeks.

-----

The next morning, Onyxia was awakened by Aura gently opening the door to her chambers, the sight of the Paladin causing an involuntary smile to form. "Good morning, Aura. I assume something has happened?" She thought back to the previous times she'd been awakened by Aura rather than one of her day staff, most often due to some mishap they were too scared to tell her about themselves. The Paladin dismissed her fears by brandishing a large envelope with a wax seal in the form of a lion. "Ah. Duty calls, I suppose." She sat up, her linen sheet falling away as she reached for the letter. She didn't realise she'd just flashed Aura until their eyes met once again, the Paladin having gone a deep crimson. "I'd apologise but I think you rather enjoyed that." The Paladin chuckled, conceding her point with a shrug.

"The light blesses us in mysterious ways, Lady P." She turned towards the door, settling on the edge of the bed as Onyxia read the letter.

"Blast it all!" The dragon ineffectually slammed the letter onto her bedding, combing through the contents in her mind. "I hope you don't mind snow, Aura."

"Not really, no. Dun Morogh?"

"Hah, if only we were so lucky! Alterac, unfortunately." The Paladin groaned, stretching lazily on the side of the bed before tipping backwards. She looked up at Onyxia, eyes travelling down to her chest once more. Before she could make a quip, a look of confusion crossed Aura's face.

"Can I ask you something, Katrana?" The dragon nodded, her brow furrowing slightly. "Why do you have scales?" A hot wave of panic hit her as she glanced down at herself, seeing a patch of black scales nestled just above her bust. More stretched around her sides, presumably extending from her spine.

"Fuck." Onyxia didn't often swear, but this was one time she would make an exception. "What I tell you doesn't leave this room, okay?"

"You have my word, my Lady. You don't have to say if you don't want to th-" She shushed the Paladin with a gentle finger on her lips, smiling softly.

"It's something I'd have to tell you anyway, Aura. I... Am a Dragon. Specifically a Black Dragon." The Paladin thought for a while, before rolling onto her side to get a better look at Onyxia. "I rarely use my old name, but I am known to some as Onyxia." She didn't see any fear, thankfully. "My... Ugh, father, was a traitor corrupted by dark powers I have done my damnedest to avoid."

"That's awful. Having a shit dad is one thing but that's another level of eugh." The dragon nodded, smiling a tiny amount as she reached over and took Aura's hand. She relaxed her visage slightly, allowing the scales and horns of her true form to appear. Aura's fingers traced her clawed hand, exploring the rough scales and wicked points. She looked up at Onyxia, blue eyes sparkling with wonder as she spoke. "You're beautiful, Katrana." Even having heard the words hundreds of times, dripped from the maws of nobles and courtiers like the sweetest venom, she still found herself completely flustered by Aura's admission. She felt how genuine the Paladin was in her admiration by the reverence of her touch, her eyes still sparkling.

"Titans give me strength, you're going to be the death of me!" She chuckled, shifting her visage back to her pure human appearance as Aura released her hand. "One of these days you're going to end up pinned to a wall if you carry on like that, Aura." The Paladin looked up at her and wiggled her eyebrows, before rising out of the bed.

"Better get to packing your winter clothes, Kat." She called over her shoulder, slipping back out of Onyxia's chambers. The dragon took a few minutes to compose herself before calling for one of her day staff to help her pack and prepare for the trip.

Chapter Text

Aura was the first out of the carriage, adjusting her armour as she stepped onto the frozen dirt of the courtyard. The ruins of the once-great kingdom blocked out the wintry sun as Onyxia followed her, boots crunching the fresh snow that had fallen. Multiple similar carriages were scattered around them, bearing markings of other Human kingdoms.

“Hail, ladies!” Garithos was the first to greet them, the hulking man drawing the attention of the gathered representatives to the pair. He strode over, a fake smile plastered across his face. “I do hope you aren’t missing too many important parties to be here.” Onyxia felt her skin crawl as he leered at her, grateful for the extra modesty her travel leathers granted her.

“Lord Garithos, I assure you that matters of this ilk are far more important to me than any ‘party’.” She could only hope the vile man would recognise the sweet poison in her words as a warning, but from her few interactions with him it was obvious he wouldn’t. “Now, I'd like to know why we were summoned here.”

“That is simple, Lady Prestor. We had granted lordship of Alterac to your… estranged father, but we haven't heard anything from him in a few months.” Lord Crowley spoke first, his eyes meeting hers like a pair of lances. “After our last messenger never made it back, we thought it prudent to send an armed contingent.” He gestured to a small group of soldiers that stood closer to the keep. “What was found necessitated sending summons to the other kingdoms.”

“Well, let's stop lollygagging then!” A woman clad in the rich purple of Dalaran declared before marching towards the soldiers. Onyxia and Aura were the first to follow, the other nobles and commanders blustering about proper decorum. “You must be Lady Prestor, I suppose.” The mage looked over her shoulder at the dragon, her eyes glinting with unrivalled knowledge.

“Indeed, and you must be Archmage Modera?” Onyxia caught up with her quickly, her long strides carrying her towards the keep proper.

“Of course.” The mage looked up at her, their eyes meeting for a moment. “You are hard to miss, aren't you?”

“Why thank you, Archmage.” She found herself smiling at the woman as they reached the soldiers, the rest of the group catching up to them after a short delay.

“Findlay, report!” Crowled barked the order, causing the most decorated soldier to snap to attention.

“Sir, no movement in the lower levels. The door remains sealed, and we have had no more hostile incursions since, Sir.” The lord nodded, dismissing the man with a wave of his hand. The soldier returned to his squad with a huff, snatching a steaming mug from one of them and drinking deeply.

“We have no time to lose, let's get moving before the wildlife comes back.” Crowley took the lead, jogging up the stairs to the main entrance of the keep. The doors were placed against the walls, the damage indicating that they had been broken down during the fall of Alterac. The portcullis was in ruins as well, most of the metal having pooled and hardened on the floor after being melted.

Onyxia felt a familiar hum of corrupted magic, flinching as she crossed the threshold, but Aura gently brushed her hand against the dragon's, granting her a measure of reassurance. The noise of unsheathing weapons was almost deafening as the group pushed deeper into the keep, the general uneasiness of the dead kingdom taking its toll.

“How deep is this door? I can smell the stench of my father's magic from here.” Onyxia dug her fingernails into her palms, using the pain to ground herself as the defiling, metallic scent of shadowflame filled her mind.

“Not far, it's built into a sub-level of the dungeons.” Crowley led them further in, guiding the group down an old staircase that was suspiciously clean compared to the rest of the keep. “Are you able to continue, Lady Prestor?”

“Of course, I have to ensure that whatever he has been doing down there is reduced to nothing but dust.” Crowley nodded, gesturing to another staircase that led deeper.

“Would you take the lead from here, Katrana? You are the most familiar with Lord Prestor’s work.” Onyxia strode down the stairs, feeling her scales start to rub against her clothes as she descended towards the door.

“That is… certainly a door.” Aura mumbled as the golden archway came into view, housing a cast Obsidium door. It was engraved with Deathwing’s crest, leaving no doubt in Onyxia's mind as to what he was doing here. She reached back, slipping her hand into the crook of Aura's elbow as she came to a stop in front of the door.

The stench was almost intense enough to cause the dragon to retch, her body reflexively shrinking away from the door.

“I cannot allow anyone else to accompany me and Aura inside, the risk of corruption is too great.” The assorted nobles started to bluster, only to be silenced by an inhuman scream from deep within the lab. Modera was the first to speak, looking at the dragon with terror in her eyes.

“Lady Prestor, that wasn't human, was it?”

“No. After I fled to Stormwind my father redoubled his research into the void.” There was a chorus of incensed noises from the assembled soldiers which she silenced with a wave of her hand. “I tried to warn the other kingdoms not to trust him.” Another scream interrupted the angry retorts this time, followed by a series of bangs. “No matter what, this laboratory needs to be reduced to rubble.” She fixed Crowley with a stare, the grizzled man nodding sagely.

“Understood. I'm sure Modera can borrow some mages to level this place.” The Archmage nodded in Onyxia's peripheral vision as the dragon turned back to the door, pressing her hand against it. She heated the metal until it turned to slag in the centre, the locking mechanism falling to the ground with a thunk. She pushed the door open, the lock grinding against the floor as it was shoved out of the way.

As the flickering torches held by the group spilled their light into the lab, they were met by a horrific sight. Against the far wall was a row of cages, each housing an abomination of void energy and everburning flames. The screams started in earnest as the things saw the intruders, the sound felt in the soul as much as heard.

“By the light, what are those things?!” Garithos staggered away from the door, bolting up the stairs and away. Onyxia pushed through the sound, entering the laboratory proper. Aura followed, hands clasped as a wall of light formed around the pair. The screams raised in pitch as the shadowflame fought to escape the light’s reach, crushing the once-mortal vessels into the bars in desperation as they approached. She could hear the others behind her, praying for the damned souls in the cages. She stepped in front of Aura, filling her lungs with defiled air as she took a massive breath.

As she exhaled, a wave of scalding blue fire rushed out of her mouth, incinerating the hosts and dispersing the foul magic that had animated their bodies. She continued, saturating the whole wall with the superheated flames. When she finally stopped, the cages had been reduced to molten slag, covering the ashes of her father’s experiments in a tomb of Obsidium.

“It is done.” Her voice echoed into the hall, breaking the deafening silence that had fallen over the dungeon. She turned, gesturing for those outside to enter the study. Modera pulled her aside, her face fixed in a scowl.

“That was no magic, Lady Prestor.” Onyxia raised an eyebrow, daring the archmage to continue. “And that door bore the mark of Deathwing. What, exactly, are you?”

“That is on a need-to-know basis, Archmage. And you don’t.” She leaned down, letting her eyes flash to their natural gold for a split second. “I am no threat to you, so long as you do not cross my King.” The archmage recoiled, nodding quickly before she scurried away to the reading desk that sat to one side. The dragon strode over to Aura’s side, the Paladin having finished her prayers over the metal tombs that held the twisted remains of the experiments.

“They have returned to the Light now, forevermore.” She dipped her head, letting her eyes rest on the slits in Aura’s helmet as she rose to her feet. She briefly reached out, her fingers relaxing as Onyxia mirrored the gesture, twining their hands together for a moment. “Thank you, My Lady.”

“No, I could not have freed them without your aid, Aura. Thank you.” The pair stood in silence for a moment, before Modera gestured for the dragon to come over to the desk. On it was a scarred gemstone, one she recognised as one of her father’s recording glyphs. She slipped it into her pocket, before joining the mage in looking at a mass of research notes pinned to the wall. A heavy dread settled in the pit of her stomach as she read through them, seeing her own name repeated numerous times. The text was uneven and rambling, but a clear thread wove throughout. Her father’s rumbling voice invaded her mind as she pieced together his line of thought, as if the Aspect was stood over her.

“Onyxia seems strangely resistant to the touch of my masters, as well as the shadowflame itself. They tell me that she should have been easy to corrupt, that she should have borne a mighty brood to fill my ranks now that my Dracthyr have been sealed away.” She knew it was just an echo of his presence imprinted on the notes, but the terror that gripped her was very real. “She has now vanished, refusing my orders and leaving her brother to carry out my will alone. Once I have established myself as the new King of this ruined land, I will travel to Kalimdor, where her brother assures me she has made her lair.” She buckled, the only thing keeping her upright was the Archmage’s arm wrapped awkwardly around her shoulders. She looked across at her, hoping that the mage had heard the imprint as well. The terrified look on her face answered the question before it was asked, the mage gently rubbing her back in an attempt to be comforting.

“I... have to leave. I entrust the destruction of this place to you, Modera.” Onyxia forced herself upright, taking a shaky breath as she walked back towards Aura. The Paladin quickly wrapped her arm under her shoulders, supporting the shaky-legged dragon as she helped her leave the room. “We’re going back to Stormwind. I need time to process... whatever the fuck that was.”

Chapter Text

The carriage gently rocked as it travelled along the roads of the Eastern Kingdoms, one of the occupants watching the landscape change through the window. Aura sighed as she gently adjusted herself to relieve the numbness in her arm while trying to not wake the other occupant.

Katrana had been a mess as they left the ruined kingdom. Something in that lab had really gotten under her skin, causing her to cling to the Paladin like a lifeline. Aura supposed it could have been to do with her father, though her knowledge of the Dragons of Azeroth was sorely lacking.

Katrana stirred slightly, burrowing deeper into the nape of Aura's neck. The Paladin fought to restrain the smile that threatened to break out on her face, instead focusing on being the supportive friend Katrana needed.

“How long have I been asleep?” Aura gave the woman's shoulder a quick squeeze, before resting her chin atop her head.

“On and off for the best part of a week. We just crossed into Dun Morogh.” The dragon made an unimpressed noise, returning her face to the warmth of Aura's hair. The Paladin had let her hair grow recently, having gotten tired of the maintenance of her short crop, much to Katrana's delight. The dragon's hands would often find their way into the wavy mass of hair when the two were relaxing together.

“Mrgh. How long until we make it home?”

“Couple of days to Ironforge, and we can arrange a portal from there.” Katrana nodded, her breathing slowing again as she drifted back to sleep. Aura fought the urge to squish the dragon's sleeping face, instead contenting herself with hugging her close. “Sleep well, Kat.”

-----

The great iron gate loomed over the women as they exited the carriage, Aura reflexively pulling her cloak tighter around her shoulders. Katrana looked more comfortable, the natural heat of her body causing the frozen air to steam around her.

“Let's get out of the cold, Aura.” The dragon led the way, easily lifting one of the massive trunks they travelled with. Aura took the handle of the other, thankful for the casters on the underside that let it roll behind her. They marched into the city proper, a wave of heat washing over them like a gout of flame. The throngs milling around the commons parted for the pair as they moved, allowing them to travel north around the great ring of the city.

They arrived at the mystic ward quickly enough, the oppressive heat emanating from the magma channels causing the Paladin to sweat under her travel clothes. Katrana was faring better, though the friendly facade she wore was only paper-thin; her shoulders were hunched forwards slightly and her free hand was clenched into a fist. Aura caught up to her, gently slipping her hand into Katrana’s.

“Thanks.” Her voice was small and soft, but the smile she wore when she turned was far more genuine. The crowds had thinned out, allowing the two to walk side-by-side as they neared the last stretch of their weeks-long round trip. As they entered the hall Katrana let Aura’s hand go; moving to liaise with the dwarven magi. Aura watched quietly, only moving when a pile of coins was handed over. A few seconds later, a portal to Stormwind was opened and the pair stepped through. A massive sigh escaped the sorceress as they emerged into the mage’s sanctum; the temperate air of Elwynn a wonderful reprieve from the extremes they had experienced today, though it was soured slightly by the wave of uneasiness and nausea that swept over Aura. As much as she’d gotten used to taking portals over the last few months, it was taking far longer to get over her reaction to actually going through one.

“By the Light, I never thought I’d be this happy about taking a portal.” Katrana propped her up, her free arm wrapping around the Paladin as she fought to suck down deep, calming breaths.

“Deep breaths Aura, we’re nearly home.” The pair stood there for a few more seconds, before resuming their trek home. Katrana greeted a few of the magi as they passed through the sanctum, many of them returning her greetings with enthusiasm. The walk through the city brought them to their home by the start of the evening, the skyline of the city painted a soft pink by the glow of the setting sun. They dragged their luggage through the door with a shared groan, Aura feeling the travel fatigue really start to kick in as she stumbled towards the sitting room, falling onto one of the settees with a groan. Her eyes closed as she relaxed into the cushions, sleep overtaking her as she felt Katrana collapse into her lap, the sorceress curling up against her chest.

“G’night Kat.” The only response was a contented grumble as slim arms wrapped around her neck as the world went black.

Chapter Text

"You can't be serious, Kat. She was working for the nobles that attacked the Guild!" Varian sat at the head of the private table, gesticulating wildly. “I understand you bought her loyalty but-”

“But what, Varian?” She fixed him with a gaze, leaning over to place a hand on his forearm. “I am certainly capable of defending myself, should she wish me harm. She has also been free to leave my retinue for three months, yet she insists on staying by my side.”

“Katrana. She could be an assassin sent by another kingdom, or any number of other things.” He dropped his fork, taking her hand in both of his. “I say this not out of condescension, but worry. Do you really wish to gamble your life on this?” The dragon took a deep breath, letting flames lick at the edges of her mouth in a pointed reminder.

“I have methods, Var. I think you sometimes forget what I am.” The King’s eyes widened for a split second, before he heaved a sigh.

“I must confess, I did.” He rumbled, his face starting to flush in embarrassment. Tiffin giggled, looking between the pair from her seat across the table. “Please, do not take this as an insult, dear sister, but you are just so... human. Never have I met a dragon like you.”

“He’s right, Kat. It’s hard to imagine you as a fire-spitting beast when you share meals with us.” Onyxia nodded, smiling. She knew what they meant, most of the intelligent dragons had secluded themselves far away from mortals, and those that had remained either acted like brute animals or, worse, were her birth family.

“I assure you, the vast majority of dragons are like me.” She lied through her teeth, knowing that she was unique in her temperament as an uncorrupted Black Dragon. “When we have breathing room, I’d love to tell you of the Flights.” The Wrynns relaxed a little, allowing the gentle breeze that blew through the dining hall to clear the air. The dragon snuffed out the flames around her mouth with a quick swipe of her hand, before she returned to the meal, idle chatter overtaking the room once more as they ate.

The calm was shattered by a wail from the nearby nursery, Varian sighing as he pushed himself to his feet. The king slipped out of the hall, the sound of his deep singing voice coming through the open door as he calmed the young prince. She could hear Tiffin muttering a prayer under her breath, something about Anduin needing to sleep, and she couldn't help but agree.

Twenty minutes later, Varian finally trudged back into the dining hall, his once noble features looking decidedly haggard. He dropped into his chair with a groan before he started eating once again, ramming a forkful of vegetables into his mouth.

"Forgive my ignorance, but human whelplings Andi's age should be sleeping through the night by now, shouldn't they?" Tiffin nodded, smiling a sad little smile that didn't touch her eyes.

"We believe he is having night terrors, but he can't really articulate what's going on yet." Onyxia felt a twinge of sympathy, reaching across the table to squeeze Tiffin's hands gently.

"If there is ever anything I can do..." The blonde returned the squeeze, her smile looking a little more genuine now.

"We know, Kat. Thank you." The meal was even quieter after that, both of the Wrynns present showing signs of tiredness that her predatory nature picked up on. Varian confirmed her suspicions a few minutes after the dragon had finished her plate, a massive yawn escaping from the man.

"I think I shall be taking my leave, for tonight. It has been lovely seeing you three." Varian grunted in response, still recovering from the yawn as he forced more food into his mouth. Tiffin smiled across at her, dipping her head slightly.

"Of course, Kat. Will we see you at court tomorrow?" The dragon considered for a moment, sketching out her agenda for the next day in her head.

"Unfortunately, I have been neglecting some of my personal affairs of late, and must attend to them." She smiled apologetically as she rose, gliding around to Varian at the head of the table. She leaned down, wrapping the exhausted king in a warm hug that he leaned into heavily. "Be well, dear brother." He sighed into her shoulder, basking in the warmth that flowed from her skin. She released him, repeating the motion with Tiffin before she turned to leave. "Sleep well." The haggard parents grunted in response as a servant arrived to clear away the empty plates. It was a shock to Onyxia when she discovered how the royals lived behind closed doors, with only a couple of servants to attend to them, but it made perfect sense to her now she knew the pair.

She slipped out of the keep quietly, greeting the patrolling guardsmen as she passed them. Soon enough, she felt the cool evening air against her face as she strode down the massive staircase around the fountain. She quickly found herself outside of the heavy door of her city manor, willing it to open with a flick of her wrist. The door slammed shut behind her as she entered her home, the woman bending down to wrench the heeled shoes from her feet. She was already tall enough without them, at over six feet, but it was a fun game to watch the machismo-soaked nobles bluster as she towered over them.

She padded through the corridor, slipping her feet into a pair of house shoes that rested before the shoe racking, placing her heels into their designated space. She slipped deeper into the house, beelining for the library on the second floor.

"Good evening, My Lady." The voice came from behind her as the towering Paladin slipped out of her private rooms, falling in step with the dragon.

"Good evening Aura. Have you enjoyed your afternoon off?" She didn't turn to look at the Paladin as she slipped her arm into the crook of the woman's, feeling the rippling muscle of her biceps and forearm bracketing her delicate wrist.

"Yeah." The paladin strode ahead for a split second, opening the library door for Onyxia. The pair slipped through, relaxing as the lock clicked behind them. The library was the only place in the manor that was truly private, with a single frosted window providing a woefully inadequate amount of light, even in the height of summer. The whole room was also reinforced with a layer of wards, so that even the most potent scrying spell or determined eavesdropper could see nothing of what transpired.

As soon as Onyxia reached the plush sofa she kept for reading, she collapsed into it with a groan. Aura sat on the armchair just next to the table, the one that she had commandeered for herself not long after her new contract came into effect. In those three months their relationship had slowly grown more inappropriate for a retainer and her mistress, which led to constant revisions and tweaks to the wording of her new contract. The dragon groaned, pulling herself out of her memories as black scales crawled across her back and down her arms. Aura watched her intensely, her eyes locked to the glistening jet that poked out from her long sleeves.

"Would you like your night clothes, My Lady?" The dragon nodded, noting that the emphasis of the phrase had shifted to be more possessive, as if she was insinuating that the dragon was hers, rather than a noble she was being polite to. The thought created a spike of joy in her heart, warmth spreading through her body. She knew that it wasn't fair to herself to leave the pace of their evolving relationship purely to Aura, and she had decided that it was her turn. Her ears twitched as the door to the library reopened, the tips having stretched out a little as her visage form became more herself.

The paladin deposited a matched set of silken sleepwear on the table, freshly laundered and folded by one of the day staff, no doubt. Her eyes flicked up from the clothes as she rose, noticing the Paladin had also changed into a similar set. Onyxia clamped her throat, silencing the appreciative growl that threatened to undermine her measured approach. She picked up the silks, slipping away to one of the side rooms attached to her library. She shucked the dress from her body quickly, her bodice and underwear following it to the floor. She left her stockings on as she pulled the trousers over her legs, appreciating the warmth of the layers immensely. The shirt was next, the dragon slipping it over her shoulders with an easy grace. She buttoned it up to her sternum, leaving her chest on display. She considered more buttons, but decided against it when she imagined the look on Aura's face.

Her clothes from the day were quickly gathered and teleported to the basket in her study before the dragon strolled back into the room. She noticed the blush on Aura's face as she approached their favourite reading nook, finding her lounging on the sofa. She tutted gently, standing over the relaxed woman as she read her book in silence, her eyes flitting between the pages and her exposed cleavage. She felt a devious smirk spread across her face as she hatched a plan.

"You know, it's very rude to steal your ‘mistress's’ seat when she leaves for a few minutes." She grinned down at Aura, the woman raising an eyebrow nonchalantly. In return, the dragon simply sat in Aura's lap, grinning mischievously as the Paladin adjusted to compensate for the intrusion while the dragon went bright red. She felt giddy as her heart thumped in her chest, turning and leaning back against the seat thief's chest. She heard the almost imperceptible change in her breathing, turning her head to face her new seat. Aura was making a good show of trying to read her book as the dragon vied for her attention, clearly not wanting to offend her ‘mistress’ by acting out of turn.

"Kat, do you want me to move?" Came the rhetorical question as the Paladin placed her book on the low table next to the sofa, finally giving her full attention to Onyxia.

"No." The dragon sat up for a moment, rotating herself in Aura's lap until she was straddling her. "Maybe. Not yet." She grinned, the sensation of her thoughts going haywire both terrifying and intoxicating. She lowered herself slowly, watching those gorgeous blue eyes flit between the obsidian scales that decorated her skin, the soft flesh of her chest, and her own eyes. A hand suddenly reached out, caressing the back of her neck and urging her to move faster. The dragon cocked an eyebrow, before closing the distance between their faces to almost nothing in a split second.

"You are so beautiful, my Lady." The possessiveness in Aura's voice was like a blast of light in the dragon's mind, her thought processes halting while the neurons rearranged themselves. She found herself pressing her face into the side of Aura's neck, her scent invading her mind as she fought to regain her composure. "Did I say something wrong?"

"Mmm, no." She purred into the wavy blonde mess that was her world in that second, pressing kisses against her neck. She felt her Aura relax under her, slipping an arm around her waist. She removed herself from the woman's nape, her mouth hanging open as she breathed heavily. "No, you did something very right, darling."

Chapter Text

The duvet being pulled tight woke Onyxia up, her unusual sleeping position leaving her dazed. A hand gently brushed her hair away from her face as she stirred.

“Mornin’ Kitty.” Aura's deep voice rumbled through the dragon as fragmented memories reformed in her half conscious mind. “Sleep well?”

“Mmrgh.” Her grumble drew a soft chuckle from the Paladin as they laid there for a while longer. The cracks in the curtains filtered through a deep red light as the sun started to rise, though neither of the women stirred from their embrace.

The light passing through the curtains eventually became bright enough to force her eyes open, the dragon immediately finding herself gazing lovingly at the sleepy Paladin.

“Good morning, my love.” Onyxia curled into Aura's side as she spoke, enjoying the slight chill in the morning air. Aura squeezed her in response, kissing the top of the dragon's head. “Aura...”

“Hmm?”

“Are you warm enough? You feel cold. I can get some thicker bedding if you need.” The Paladin chuckled, pulling Onyxia over until she was laid atop her broad chest. Her cheeks flushed slightly as her head came to rest in the crook of Aura's neck as strong arms held her.

“I'm plenty warm with you here, little furnace.” The Paladin's voice held a giddy excitement as she spoke, bubbling into a wonderful laugh as Onyxia giggled into her chest.

“I feel like a drake in love.”

“If that's like bein’ a teenager, then I know what you mean.” The pair fell back into a comfortable silence, Onyxia sometimes letting out a pleased growl as Aura gently massaged her scalp and horns.

A soft knocking at the door broke their quiet peace, the dragon's elfin ears twitching slightly as she listened intently.

“Lady Prestor, do you wish to take breakfast in your chambers?” Molly called through the door, her arrival meaning it was well past eight o’clock.

“Please, Moll. Could you bring a second serving as well?” The dragon started to extract herself from her love's embrace, shaking out her limbs as she finally escaped. Onyxia opened one of the lower drawers on her dresser, retrieving a pair of shorts and a vest. She dragged the undergarments on with a grunt, one of her horns getting caught in the arm hole. She could hear Aura giggling at her as she fought to free the protrusion, finally wrenching it free after a few seconds of contortion. Only as she fully restored her human visage did she realise she could have done so before trying to fit a vest over her horns, cursing herself under her breath.

“Of course, Lady Prestor. Will Miss Tiller require a set of house clothes?”

“If you would, Moll. Today should be a quiet one, if you could inform the other staff to take it easy it would be most appreciated.” The Paladin finally slipped out of bed, rummaging through the drawer.

“I'm sure they'll be very thankful, Lady Prestor.” She heard the woman walk away from the door just as Aura laughed, retrieving a set of undergarments slightly larger than the rest.

“You really had a stash of underwear my size in here?” The Paladin wore an amused smirk as she looked at Onyxia.

“Well, maybe I was being an attentive mistress and ensuring my bodyguard would have clean underwear to hand should she spend the night guarding my chambers.” Aura laughed as she pulled on her own undergarments, her smile illuminating her scarred face like a gentle sunrise.

“Thanks, Kitty. Even if your excuse is as flimsy as your willpower.” She then proceeded to prove her point by gently brushing past the dragon, resulting in the raven-haired woman wrapping herself around the Paladin possessively.

“Okay, you may have a point. But dragons love treasure. And I treasure you.” Aura sighed softly, hooking an arm under the dragon's thighs and lifting her off the ground. Onyxia found herself deposited in the chair in front of her desk and took it upon herself to clear the unused surface. The miasma of dust that formed as she worked was cleared away by a summoned breeze as Aura carried the stool from her vanity to her side as she started to play with her hair.

“If someone had told me a year ago that I'd be in love with a dragon I'd’ve slapped them back to reality.” The Paladin gently moved Onyxia’s hands away from her hair, starting to brush it. The dragon's head drooped sleepily as she relaxed into her chair. “A beautiful noblewoman though? Wouldn't be the first time I fell for someone I couldn't have, to be honest.” The dragon shifted slightly, granting access to the other side of her head. “Not like that matters though, really. In here, away from everyone else, we're just two women who fell in love.”

“Mmmm. Even ten years ago I would have laughed at the mere suggestion that I would even tolerate mortals, let alone renounce my family for them.” The Paladin dragged the brush against a hidden knot, causing Onyxia to gasp from the discomfort. A few moments passed in silence as the tangle was removed. “But, here I am, surrounded by these wonderful, colourful creatures that hold my heart in their hands. One of them quite literally.”

A satisfied huff announced that Aura was happy with her work as Onyxia righted herself in her chair. The brush was offered to the dragon who gleefully accepted. A few moments of quiet shuffling followed as they rearranged themselves in their seats, before the brush was gently teasing through the wavy blonde hair that crowned Aura's head. The room was slowly filled with the soft hums that always followed the dragon as she focused on work, occasionally accompanied by a relaxed sigh from the Paladin.

“Kitty?” The dragon paused her ministrations as the Paladin spoke, resting her chin on her shoulder. “Do we need to keep... This secret?”

“I don't see why we should, my love. The only people who would take offence are the types I don't care to give the time of day to.” She gently returned to brushing out the ends of Aura's hair as she spoke.

“I suppose so, you never seemed like the type who'd ever look down on us common folk.” The dragon hummed in agreement as she worked, discarding the brush and running her hands through Aura's hair. “Does the King have any reservations about us being together?”

“Mm. He was worried that you could have been sent to kill me, at first.” Aura burst into laughter at that statement, taking a moment to compose herself.

“That's pretty funny. It'd take at least, what, forty people to kill you?” The dragon laughed, returning to her desk just as the door opened. “G’morning Molly.”

“Morning Au. Good morning, Lady P. Today's breakfast is oat porridge with bananas, fresh orange juice and thistle tea.”

-----

“Comfortable, love?”

“Just about.” The Paladin nuzzled against the side of Onyxia’s neck, squeezing her possessively as she relaxed into her embrace. “One of these days you're going to try this in your true form and crush me.”

“I wouldn't even fit in the house, let alone the library.” Onyxia felt Aura's arms slowly pull away as the Paladin reached for her book. “I mean... I think I wouldn't. Now that I think about it, I've been in my Visage for a few years by this point.”

“Is that a bad thing?” The concern in Aura's voice was very genuine, but a quick shake of the head caused her to relax once more.

“Not at all. It's not... An illusion or a polymorph spell. It's still my body, as it were.” She watched the Paladin's book return to the table next to their couch. “Fel, some dragons spend the majority of their lives in their visage form, since we get to choose them ourselves.”

“Oh, right. So you chose to be a pasty, raven-haired witch?” Aura's little joke earned her an elbow to the ribs, causing a grunt of pain. “I never said any of that was a bad thing, Kitty.”

“Mmhm. No, I didn't. I had to change it to look more like my father's, to sell the fantasy. My preferred visage is how I look when we're in private.”

“Huh, I just thought that was your disguise going haywire.”

“Nope, I always try to not hide what I am from people, when possible.” Onyxia let herself relax into Aura's embrace as she absentmindedly scratched the base of one of her horns, the small protrusion much less inconvenient than the ram-like horns that adorn her draconic form.

“Forgive me if I come off as insensitive, but do some dragons have visage forms that are... different to their birth bodies? Like Joan.”

“A few. It's rare, but not unheard of. I won't name names, since they aren't my stories to tell.”

“Huh. The more you know, even dragons can be born in the wrong body.” Onyxia lazily reached over to the table, retrieving her own book and starting to read.

Chapter Text

Onyxia stood in front of the hidden doorway, steeling herself for what was to come. She leaned towards one of the books that lined the nondescript shelf deep in her library, speaking a magical codeword into being. The blue runes drifted lazily into the spine of the book. She stepped forwards as the door opened, house slippers muffling her footsteps as she descended the staircase that led deep under her home.

The stairwell eventually opened into a sizable room filled with occult objects and oddities. She strode past most of the collection, only stopping before a glass orb that hummed with draconic magic. Her hand came to rest atop it as she spoke a spell aloud, her vision being wrenched away a split-second later. When the orb’s magic finally settled on its target, Onyxia was greeted by a blob of darkness. She moved her projection slightly, but still nothing could be seen through the inky morass. It was only when she had completely left the confines of the cavern she was watching did it recede, allowing her to see what lay outside of the darkness.

Her little corner of the marsh was much the same as it had been before she departed for her new home, devoid of most of the mortal races. The deep darkness still obscured her lair, even from outside; like a hole in reality. She huffed, cutting off the spell and drawing away from the orb.

---

Onyxia jogged up the stairs to her quarters, slipping quietly back into the bedroom. Aura was reading by the light of a candle, her eyes flicking up to meet Onyxia's as the loose floorboard creaked.

“You okay?”

“Not sure. Had a bad feeling about my lair.” She gently lowered herself onto the bed and made herself comfortable. “My scrying spell was being interfered with when I tried to check on it.”

“Do we need to go investigate?” The dragon huffed, settling her head on Aura's shoulder. “I'll take that as a yes, then.” A long, exhausted sigh escaped Onyxia in reply.

“I really don't want to.” Aura set her book down and took Onyxia into a gentle embrace. “Don't say it, darling.”

“I wasn't going to say anything, Kitty. Not when it's something that’s got you this wound up.” She planted a kiss on her forehead, allowing the silence to envelop them once more. Onyxia relaxed into Aura's embrace for a while, the soft flickering of the candle calming her mind.

“I don’t really have a choice. What if there’s something I left there without realising? Something dangerous?” Aura snuffed out the candle, letting darkness reclaim the room before she replied.

“We’ll go talk to Varian tomorrow, once we’ve slept on it.”

-----

The pair had managed to return to sleep, however fitful and fleeting it ended up being. They prepared for the day as they would for any other, washing and dressing in a sombre silence that set their nerves even further on edge. After a utilitarian breakfast the pair made their way through the city.

Despite the gleaming white stone and blazing lights the keep had an oppressive atmosphere about it as they entered, the guards barely tipping their heads to Onyxia as she passed. As they drew closer to the throne they became aware of a crowd that had filled the cavernous room, citizens and nobles alike jostling for access. As they reached the densest part of the throng, Varian could be heard shouting over the clamouring voices.

“-not promise aid in return for slaves, Blackmoore. You disgust me.” The King was nearing the end of his tether, his voice more roar than shout.

“Hah, I knew Stormwind had gone soft when you didn't crush the Stonemason's Guild!” The slavemaster threw his head back, cackling loudly. “As you wish, Wrynn; I will no longer sully your halls with my foul presence. Ta-ta.” He strode towards the entrance, forcing the crowd to part around him as he pushed through. He flashed his disgusting smile at Onyxia as he passed her, causing her to recoil. The pair pushed towards the throne as the crowd thinned, stopping to greet various acquaintances as they went. After a brief conversation with Edwin VanCleef, the crowd had filtered out of the throne room, leaving behind only a handful of petitioners.

“Edwin, what can I do for you today?” Varian smiled warmly as he greeted the mason with a clasping of forearms.

“Your highness, I come bearing news from the reconstruction that we believed you would want to hear personally.” The king released a breath he had been holding and deflated slightly. His eyes twinkled as the smile reached them, the young man finally relaxing.

“Please tell me it's good news, Edwin.” The gruff mason laughed, his stony face never moving from his easy grin.

“Of course it is, my lord. We’re pulling ahead of schedule, thanks to your aid in Westfall relieving some pressure on our budget.”

“That is wonderful news indeed; but what of the guild itself, no more interference?”

“None at all, my lord. We've not heard a peep from the noble houses since the attack last year.”

“Thank the Light for that. Is there anything else?”

“No, my lord. Just keeping you apprised of the situation.” Varian nodded, tipping his head slightly in thanks.

“Thank you for your hard work, Edwin. I know how much of a gamble it was for you to trust me and Katrana after the attack.” He gestured for the next petitioner to come forwards as Edwin bowed and left the keep. The next few petitioners were minor nobles wanting to sway the King this way or that on matters of courtly favour. Onyxia paid no attention, instead busying herself preening over her love. The Paladin started to blush as she was fussed over, eventually clearing her throat to catch Onyxia’s attention.

“Thank you, Lady Tiller.” The dragon slowly turned to face Varian, her face flushing in embarrassment at having been so engrossed in preening over Aura she completely ignored her friend.

“My apologies, your highness.” She curtseyed briefly, watching the last of the other petitioners leave the throne room out of the corner of her eye. “I was... Distracted.”

“I saw, Kat. What can I help you with?” Varian smiled at her, his eyes twinkling with mirth as she formulated a response.

“I... Require leave to travel to Kalimdor.” His face hardened a little as he gestured for her to elaborate. “I would like to discuss why in private, my lord.” Varian nodded, turning to a nearby guard.

“I will confer with Lady Prestor in the war room. See to it that we are not disturbed, if you would.” The guard snapped off a salute, jogging around the throne room and gathering guards as the trio entered the war room. As the doors slammed behind them, Onyxia let out a held breath. Varian gestured to Aura, his eyebrow raised slightly in question.

“She knows everything, Var.” The king nodded, leaning on the great table. “My... My lair is in southern Kalimdor. I tried to check on it last night, only to be met by interference I couldn't penetrate.”

“And you wish to investigate this in person, correct?”

“Yes. I don't believe anything too dangerous is hidden there still, but whatever was interfering with my scrying orb really didn't want me seeing anything.” Varian pondered for a moment, before nodding gently.

“You have my full support in this, Kat. I have never felt my trust in you to be misplaced.” He strode over to the dragon, enveloping her in a warm hug. He released her after a few moments, squeezing her shoulder reassuringly. “If you feel it important enough to warrant asking; then I have no reason to deny you.”

“Thank you, Var. I know it's not fair to disappear for months on end but-.” Varian cut her off with a gentle wave of his hand.

“Katrana, could you not take a portal?”

“N-no, I am wholly incapable of creating one across such a vast distance.” Onyxia was slightly baffled by the question, having bemoaned her lack of prowess with long distance portal creation a few times over dinner.

“No, but we could ask one of the Archmages for aid. I'm sure we could organise it under the auspices of an expedition to the legendary lands of Kalimdor.” The King's eyes glinted with his fierce intelligence as he grinned at her.

“He has a point, my love.” Aura chipped in, finally breaking her silence. “I bet Modera would jump at the chance to go ‘splorin.”

“I... That does make a lot more sense; especially since I can provide a target for their portal.” Onyxia shrugged, finding herself agreeing with the other two. Varian nodded, smiling at her.

“I will send a message to the council. I assume this ‘Modera’ will be your first choice?”

“Yes, she deduced my identity while we were in Alterac.” Varian raised an eyebrow, humming thoughtfully before continuing.

“It is settled then. I will establish contact with Dalaran and begin planning this ‘Grand Expedition’.”

Chapter Text

The war room was packed full of ambassadorial aides; to the point where the sleep-deprived Onyxia had started to feel claustrophobic. She stood beside Varian, watching impassively as the mortals vied for position.

“May I have some quiet?” The Wolf King's voice cut through the cacophony like a knife, leaving a respectful silence in its wake. “Thank you. To get to the heart of the matter, I called this meeting to propose an expedition to the ancient lands of Kalimdor.” A few seconds of stunned silence held the room, swiftly broken by an incensed snort.

“Preposterous! What a frivolous waste of time! Feel free to chase myths, your majesty. Gilneas has far more pressing matters to attend to!” The Gilnean representative blustered, his ruddy face the spitting image of a hog shank as he stormed out of the war room; scattering the Thalassian delegation around him like a boar charging through reeds. His beleaguered assistants followed, apologising profusely to everyone they passed.

“I must agree with Lord Cumberfauld, your Highness. I shall take my leave as well.” The Lordaeronian delegation left too, leaving only a scant few representatives in the room. The largest delegation remaining was the Thalassian cohort, the elves having recovered from their close encounter with the ham-faced lord.

“I believe we could spare a ranger or two for this expedition, your highness. It is not every day the opportunity to revisit the ancient homelands is placed in our laps, after all.” Ambassador Brightmorne's face was lit up by a rare smile as she spoke. Modera stood to one side with Jaina, the pair whispering conspiratorially before the purple-clad Archmage spoke.

“I'll put this to the rest of the Six with my full support, King Wrynn. If I'm unable to convince them that I should go, the least we can do is scour the archives for anything that might help.” Varian nodded softly, smiling at Modera.

“You have my thanks, Archmage.”

“I'll raise this with Fa-... the Grand Admiral, Your Highness. I can't see why we wouldn't want to explore potential new trade routes.” Jaina was the last of the representatives to speak, her voice trembling ever so slightly. She had come with Modera from Dalaran, rather than having the Kul Tiran delegation return to Stormwind so soon after they left.

“Wonderful.” Varian smiled warmly, beckoning the ambassadors closer. “Lady Prestor has a plan for you to return home with. If you would, Kat.”

“Thank you, my lord. I proposed this expedition to Kalimdor to investigate the abandoned lair of Onyxia.” Modera’s eyes went wide for a split second, the other mortals looking more puzzled than anything else. “While we don't know her current whereabouts, I am very confident that she will not be there when we arrive.”

“The voyage by sea takes months, Lady Prestor, how can you be so confident?” Brightmorne spoke first, leaning over the table. Onyxia deposited a crudely drawn map of southern Kalimdor on the table before speaking.

“It would only take a week or so, should my research be correct. I should be able, with the assistance of the Kirin Tor, to anchor a portal to this ley line nexus here.” She pointed to the centre of a web of blue lines, just outside of Dustwallow. “The lair is here, in the southeastern marshlands.” Her finger traced the mountainous border of the marsh, stopping at the sketch of a cave entrance. “If we stick to the foothills, we should be able to avoid the worst of the wetlands.”

“You are... Very familiar with this land, for someone who has never set foot there.” Jaina eyed her suspiciously as she spoke. “I would like to know how you know this.”

“All in due time, Jaina. When I'm sure I can trust you, you will have the truth. And if you don't want to place your faith in me, do so in King Wrynn or the Archmage.” Jaina turned slightly, her icy blue eyes coming to rest on Modera. The Archmage sighed, closing her eyes as she gathered her thoughts.

“Katrana can be trusted in this. It's not my story to tell, but I will confirm she is trustworthy on this matter, at least.” Jaina shrugged, unsatisfied but placated.

“That trek should only take a few days, if I am reading this map correctly.” One of Brightmorne’s escorts intoned, his voice like the growl of a crocolisk. “Why do you say a week?”

“To account for tampering in the scrying orb I used. To be clear, this information must never be repeated outside of this room, or, obviously, the inner sanctums of your lords. Unless you want the Dragons under Blackrock notice they are missing one of their precious baubles.” Onyxia leaned over the table, fixing the ambassadors with a pointed stare. “Any other pertinent information will be shared closer to our departure.”

“Very well, Lady Prestor, King Wrynn. I will relay this plan to the King posthaste.” Brightmorne turned to leave, her guards falling in behind her. The others filtered out as well, making hasty excuses to escape Onyxia’s gaze. Once the doors had swung shut behind them, Onyxia let out a held breath and let her shoulders slump. She dragged the grizzled King into a hug before speaking.

“I... I’m gonna head home big guy. I’m exhausted.” Onyxia leaned heavily on Varian as she squeezed him, her eyes drifting closed as he returned the hug.

“You look it, Kat. At least try to get some sleep.” Onyxia nodded softly, a yawn escaping her as he released the hug. “Good night, Kat.”

“G’nigh’ Var. Give Tiff ‘n Andi my love.”

“I will.” Onyxia took a deep breath before stepping out of the room, standing upright and forcing her eyes to focus. She steeled herself and stepped out of the room; dreading the walk home but desperate for the comfort of Aura's embrace.

Chapter Text

The day of the expedition crept ever closer, looming over Onyxia's head like an executioner's axe. Her restless nights became more and more common, until the week they were to depart finally arrived, bringing the most hellish night yet.

Onyxia rose before the sun, staggering into the manor’s kitchen before any of the day staff arrived. The previous day’s waterskins were drained, forcing her to rummage through the coldbox. The magical ice scratched her scales as she pulled free a forgotten bottle of moonberry juice. Using a claw, she lifted the cork free and emptied the contents into her mouth.

“Kitty, are you in here?” She turned, the golden glow of her eyes reflected back at her in Aura’s own. “There you are.” Onyxia found herself in a warm embrace, automatically returning the hug as she collapsed into Aura's arms.

“It started hurting today.”

“What did?” Aura rested her chin between Onyxia's horns as she slumped further into the hug, relying on Aura to keep her upright.

“My chest. Remember I started hallucinating a ton of blood just here?” A clawed hand pressed gently against the bottom of Aura's ribcage. “It... It started hurting so bad.”

“Why didn't you say something?” Aura gently started massaging Onyxia's side, the warm touch providing some small measure of relief.

“I don't think it's real.” Came the mumbled reply as Aura bent to lift the dragon into her arms. “Maybe this expedition was a bad idea.”

“That’s a load of crap and you know it, Kitty. If we don’t deal with the source it’s not going to get better.” Onyxia didn't respond, having finally fallen asleep in Aura's arms. Aura decided to let her sleep, carefully navigating throughout the pitch darkness of the manor to their chambers. It was going to be a long week.

---

As the expedition party gathered in the centre of Dalaran, the air was charged with excitement. Hundreds of magi had gathered around the square, eager to see the explorers off on their grand expedition into lands unknown. Many were elves that had heard of their ancestral homelands, of course, but none could believe that their exile was going to finally be broken on the whims of a noble of Stormwind.

Jaina and Modera stood abreast of Onyxia, one in purple robes and the other in a sea-green suit. Jaina was officially joining the expedition as the Kul Tiran representative, scouting for new trade partners. To the right of Jaina was Aura, resplendent in her full regalia as a knight of Stormwind. Her plate glistened under the midday sun, recently repainted and polished. Vereesa was the last member of the expedition, tucked on the left of Modera. The ranger was unusually nervous, having been volunteered for the expedition by the Ranger General. Her leathers were well-kept, but multitudes of small scars and nicks served as reminders of her battles.

Onyxia herself was dressed in scalemail, decorated with blue and gold heraldry and gifted to her by the King. The armour was heavy and intimidating, drawing stares from passers by and companions alike. On her waist was a sword, plain and unassuming compared to the armour, accompanied by a metal cane slung across her back.

The five stood before a group of mages, all of whom were stony-faced and resolute. Modera finally stepped forward, as if responding to an invisible signal.

“Council Archmage Modera. Please begin the portal spell.” The eldest spoke, his voice like gravel. Modera produced a carved rune from her pouch, holding it in her outstretched hand. It began to glow as she channelled mana through it, a small bead of unreality forming on its surface. Onyxia stepped forwards, feeding some of her own mana to the spell. As she did so, the other Archmages joined in, forcing the tear in reality to stabilise.

“Lady Prestor, please direct the portal.” Onyxia complied, bringing her memories of the ley-lines of southern Kalimdor to mind. She focused on the most ancient and stable, pushing through the hole in reality. As it latched onto the veins of the planet, she steered the rip toward a smaller nexus, away from the ruined city. She finally settled on a location that she knew was safe, pushing that information deep into the fabric of the spell.

As the portal began to open, an unfamiliar man stepped forwards from the crowd, standing next to Jaina and whispering in her ear. Onyxia didn't risk turning to look at him, instead focusing on the portal.

Nearly a minute later the portal finally stabilised, revealing a rolling savannah. Onyxia and Modera stepped back, allowing the portal mages to take over as they both took deep breaths. The new arrival stepped through the portal without a word, having slipped past the others.

“This is it, friends. The point of no return.” Onyxia looked to the rest of her party, and all of them returned her gaze with steely determination. “Onwards, then.” She strode through the portal, emerging onto the compacted dirt of the savannah. She looked around, breathing in the familiar air as she steeled herself for the journey yet to come.

Chapter Text

Vereesa was awoken suddenly by the distant sound of a blade being sheathed in something's organic, springing to her feet. The camp was peaceful at least, her companions still fast asleep. Martin emerged from one of the tents looking nauseous. He padded over to her, head bowed slightly.

“Lady Vereesa, did-” His question was cut short by a death rattle outside the camp, followed by the dull thump of a massive body hitting the floor. Vereesa sprang towards the noise, slipping between the dense foliage that surrounded their marshy island. In the shallows, she was greeted by the sight of a bloodied Katrana surrounded by the corpses of black dragonkin. Martin followed her, stumbling over a root as he emerged from the plants. The sound caught the woman's attention, her blazing golden eyes snapping around to fix them with a stare.

“Oh, it's you two.” She said before deflating with a relieved sigh. As Vereesa’s eyes adjusted to the pale moonlight she began to pick apart the woman's appearance. Katrana's ears were pointed and almost serrated, extending past the back of her head slightly. A pair of jagged horns sat just above her forehead, slick and shiny with what she assumed to be blood. Her gauntlets had been removed to reveal pitch-black claws on scaled hands that grasped her weapons.

Martin surged past Vereesa in a split second, placing himself between Katrana and the ranger.

“I knew you were hiding something, Prestor.” His voice had hardened, sounding nothing like the mysterious yet chipper young mage who had been accompanying the group.

“Really, Martin? We're really going to do this in the middle of the night, knee deep in swamp water?” The sorceress sounded exhausted, cleaning her blade on a nearby corpse.

“Of course we are, cousin. Did you really think you could hide what you are forever?” Martin's hands had started to shimmer, pools of arcane energy forming in his palms as he stared down the mysterious woman. Katrana sheathed her sword and returned her cane to the sling on her back, trudging back towards the camp. “Don't try anything clever, Onyxia.”

“Light give me strength.” The woman pinched the bridge of her nose, shouldering past the mage as she trudged back to the camp. “I'm getting out of these sodden boots before you get to do any more interrogating.” Martin spluttered in protest, the magic that was gathering around him dissipating in his confusion. They followed her back to the camp as she hewed through the flora with her clawed hands. The rest of the party had awakened and gathered around the fire, turning to face the trio as they returned. Aura immediately started fussing over Katrana as she slammed down next to the fire, wiping blood from her face.

“Go on then, ask.” Katrana hadn't hidden her draconic visage on the short trip back to camp, clearly too exhausted to care. She began prying off her boots with a litany of grunts, tipping the swampy water away and seting them by the fire, before proceeding to massage her feet.

“You... You aren't even trying to hide it!” Martin was incredulous as he stared at the woman with wide eyes. “Here you sit, the daughter of Deathwing!”

“Yes, very observant.” The newly outed dragon leaned against Aura as the Paladin finally settled next to her, sighing gently. “I don't tell you how much I love you nearly often enough.”

“She... She knows?! Who else knows what you are?”

“I've known for months.” Modera chimed in, having settled across from the pair. The Archmage warmed her hands, completely nonplussed by the dragon in front of her. “If she meant us harm, we'd have been dead the second that portal closed.” Vereesa was still speechless, her mouth agape as she stared at the other members of the party. Jaina had appeared next to her, gently guiding her onto the log they had dragged to camp to sit on.

“You too, Jaina?” There was a note of betrayal in Martin's voice as he stared at the woman.

“I knew she wasn't human.” The blonde mage had conjured a flask of water, passing it to the ranger before she turned to face Martin. “As Modera said, we'd have been dead a week ago if she wanted us to be.”

“She's Onyxia! The daughter of the fallen aspect! Why are you not taking this seriously?!”

“Because I’m not some mewling whelp begging for daddy's approval!” Onyxia didn't even turn to face him, ranting into the campfire from her resting place on Aura's shoulder. “I finally have agency in my life again; I finally found a real family away from the abuse and torment of that bastard!” Aura had slipped an arm around Onyxia, gently rubbing her back. “And now, I'm trudging through a swamp with someone I thought I could trust, trying to find out what the fuck happened in my lair to leave me stuck in my Visage!” Martin shrank back on himself, looking guilty as Onyxia started to sob.

“I - I'm so sorry, Onyxia.” The use of her name seemed to upset her more as she curled tightly into Aura's side, the Paladin shooting a disappointed glare up at Martin. Jaina stood, grabbed his wrist and dragged him out of the camp.

“Why didn't you just ask, Marty?” Martin shrivelled under her glare, guilt scrawled across his face.

“Her whole flight is known for their deceit and corruption, what if I'd said something and she had already twisted your mind?”

“By the tidemother, you really think she could have corrupted a Paladin? You've seen how strong Aura's connection to the Light is!”

“Okay, fine! Sure! I was scared for you, that's all. Just, you know, one of the most corrupt and twisted forces on Azeroth casually travelling with some of the most important members of the Kirin Tor somewhere they can’t be reached!” Martin gesticulated wildly as he spoke, pacing back and forth.

“I get it Martin, I really do. But she's clearly not the woman you knew, if she even existed outside of what she was forced to do by her father! You think someone willing to do what he did wouldn't be worse in private?”

“I don't know. Jaina! I've been hunting the remnants of her family for decades, trying to keep them away from you mortals. Then, I hear rumours about Prestor destroying a secret Black Dragonflight laboratory under Alterac. Who is that going to be besides Onyxia, one of the only black dragons powerful enough to destroy Deathwing’s creations!”

“Stop calling her that, for tide's sake! You saw how she reacted!” Jaina ran a hand through her hair, glaring at Martin. “She's spent years living as Katrana, doing everything she can to protect Stormwind from her family’s plans. Repenting, if I had to guess. Just give her a chance.”

“Alright. I’ll trust you, this one time. But I will not hesitate to put her down, if I need to.” Jaina nodded, her expression softening slightly. She led him back to the camp, where Vereesa and Modera were sitting by the campfire. Aura’s tent was closed, the flap held in place by a small enchantment that glistened in the scant light of the sunrise. They sat on the log, watching as the sea mist settled across the swamp like a blanket. “Are they...?”

“Asleep. Katrana passed out just after Jaina dragged you off. Poor woman hadn’t slept since the night before we left.” Modera looked weary, rolling a pearl of magical ice between her fingers. “We’re going to set off in the afternoon.” The four sat in silence for a while, none of them willing to discuss the events of the day. Eventually the party went off to do their own things around the camp, taking advantage of the brief respite Katrana’s sleep offered them.

Chapter Text

Onyxia led the others deep into the earth, past the great jaws that guarded her long-abandoned lair. The wards had served well in keeping most of the dragonkin away; though the psychic miasma that had stopped her checking on the cave weighed heavily on her mind. The pressure cleared as they rounded a corner, now truly within the belly of the beast. The cave began to heat up as the group descended, the walls bathed in a soft orange light produced by deliberately created lava flows and enchanted crystals.

In the centre of the chamber was a massive pile of rubble, causing a surge of terror to shoot through Onyxia’s heart. Before she could investigate, however, Aura grabbed her arm and dragged her attention to the side wall.

“Kitty, there's an intact egg!” There was no more hesitation in their stride, the pair breaking into a full sprint towards the egg from which a soft, trilling cry could be heard. “It's okay lil’ one, Mom's here.” Aura cooed as they both laid their hands against the egg.

“I... I remember her... The only one I could hide from his rampage...” Onyxia wrapped her arms around her final egg, desperate to keep it safe. “Your mothers are here, you're safe now.” Standing amongst the broken shells of her clutch dragged at her heart like an anchor, though the lack of visible bones or other remains gave her a spark of hope that at least some of the others survived.

“Katrana... You should probably get over here!” Modera's voice carried across the chamber from behind the rubble pile, causing the dragon's head to snap around. After some awkward shuffling, she managed to lift the egg, and carried it as she approached. The side of the pile she couldn't see from the entrance slowly came into view as Aura stopped dead in her tracks, stunned by whatever the pile was hiding.

Her heart stopped as she saw herself, using the massive pile of rubble as cover. A great golden spear was lodged in her chest, put there by the ruined Watcher that lay nearby. A wave of nausea washed over her, followed quickly by a massive pain in her side. Barely managing to keep her grip on her precious cargo, she staggered towards the corpse's head.

“It... Worked...” Onyxia spoke, her voice strained with the effort of speaking. “My dearest... Self...” A gigantic limb reached towards Katrana, impossibly gentle as it pulled her closer. “You must... Finish it...”

“I... You want her to kill herself?!” Aura was incredulous, and as the first to recover from the discovery that the Dragon was still alive, was the first to speak.

“Au...” Katrana set the egg down against Onyxia’s massive neck and leaned heavily upon her. “The spear isn't killing us. It's forcing... the shadowflame out of our body. You gotta... Heal her.” Katrana collapsed, clutching at her chest. Just as the panicked Aura rushed over to her, the sound of shifting sands filled the cavern.

“Oh no no no! When am I? This isn't Valdrakken!” Martin was the first to investigate, disappearing around the side of the pile as Aura desperately felt for a pulse in Katrana's neck. She let out a relieved sigh as she found it, still relatively strong despite the rapidity of Katrana's deterioration.

“Chronormu!? Why are you here?” Modera and Jaina finally moved, scuttling away from the impaled body. The three mages spoke to the newcomer in hushed voices as Aura poured her healing light into Onyxia. Their quiet conversation continued for some time, allowing Aura to work undisturbed.

“This is incredible, Matrigos! A completely unmapped timeline full of opportunity!” The speaker finally appeared around the corner, revealing herself to be a blonde haired gnome. “Okay, Onyxia is two people now! That's... That's a new one.” Chromie laughed nervously, wringing her hands as she inspected the situation. “Normally I'd offer some vague advice in an attempt to push you towards a good timeline, but I'm working blind here.” There was a heavy silence as the group inspected Onyxia and Katrana, whispering between themselves. Aura was the first to speak after a long time, having devised a barebones plan.

“I think I... Yeah, I understand what's happening. Modera, you need to take Jaina and Vereesa and keep an eye on the entrance; we can't afford to be interrupted. Martin, stay with me and get ready to push the spear through her. Gnome, I... Just do whatever it is you do.” There was an awkward chorus of mumbles as the others mulled it over, before a pained cry snapped them all to attention.

“Aura... Is right. That spear is... gathering the... corruption.” Katrana wheezed out her words with great effort, her already pale face having taken on a ghostly appearance. The others dove into action just as a cacophony of roars and battlecries became audible.

“Ready to kill some dragonkin, ladies?” Modera had blinked atop the rubble pile, her grey mane making her stand out against the cavern walls.

“As I'll ever be...” Vereesa joined the mage atop the rubble, her bow in hand. Jaina took up position by Onyxia's tail, bracing herself as the smell of the sea mingled with the pungent aroma of dragon blood.

“Yes, Archmage.” As the first group of dragonkin rounded the corner, a volley of ice and arrows greeted them. The narrow tunnel entrance had become a killing field as the mages blanketed the area in a swarm of missiles. Vereesa's aim was as impressive as ever, landing shot after shot in the vulnerable eyes and throats of the creatures. The tide abated slightly, buying Aura and Martin precious time.

"I'm sorry, Kitty. This is going to suck." Aura gently wiped the sweat from Katrana's brow as she stopped healing Onyxia, instead letting the light flow through her and into the spear. The change in approach rendered the dragons unconscious, but Aura felt the vile taint coalescing around the head of the spear much faster that before.

“Ah ha!” Martin bounded past Aura to Onyxia’s head. “The curse on them, that split her into two bodies, I think I've reverse engineered it!” He stood there rather proudly, before shrinking in on himself in embarrassment as Aura delivered her most potent side-eye.

“Can we worry about putting Kitty back together after we deal with the soul-searing corruption and imminent wounds?” Martin seemed cowed, clearing his throat awkwardly. He returned to his place at the spear's pommel, ready to drive it clear of Onyxia's body.

The second wave of creatures stormed down the tunnel, this time prepared for a volley of projectiles. Unfortunately, they hadn't prepared for a group of massive water elementals slamming into them like a tidal wave, crushing bones and shattering weapons. Jaina was beginning to look tired, leaning heavily on Onyxia's tail as she gasped for breath.

“Portals on the right wall!” Vereesa sent a flurry of shots towards the sickly black and teal portals, bringing down a few of the horrifically corrupted dragonkin that made it through them. Chromie started mumbling to herself about caverns and adventurers, before the hulking Tauren that had joined their party of explorers in the Barrens charged headlong into the corrupted dragonkin. A volley of nature magic followed him, the dark-skinned elf he travelled with lending her aid.

The other tag-alongs all fell upon the sickly portals as they opened, desperately fighting to keep the intruders away from Onyxia. The tears in spacetime didn’t stay closed, however, reappearing a few more times as Aura fought to draw the final sparks of shadowflame out of her beloved’s body and into the titanic spear.

“Now, Martin!” Aura bolted away from the spear, grabbing the egg as she went. “Everyone get clear!”

In the blink of an eye, the willowy mage had been replaced by a cobalt-scaled dragon. He looked small as he grabbed the spear in his upper limbs and braced himself to drive it free of the massive dragon. Modera hurled herself from the rubble pile, landing in the waiting arms of one of Jaina’s elementals. Vereesa and Jaina made for Chromie, the small woman conjuring a dome of temporal magic to shield them from the blast.

Matrigos roared as he pushed, the horrendous sound of massive bones shattering sickening the present mortals to their cores. He kept pushing, giving the golden spear enough energy to exit the wounded dragon completely. As it clattered to the ground, the foul purple flames coalesced around its head and leapt free of the holy weapon.

The Shadowflame latched on to a dying Drakonid, searing its wounds shut and filling it with power. The tag-along adventurers threw themselves at it, granting the exploratory party enough breathing room to tend to the wounded.

The dragon's breathing had grown so weak as to be nearly undetectable, and Katrana was barely any better; despite her lack of obvious injury, the woman was struggling to draw breath as Aura knelt over her. She could hear Martin conjuring a spell as the mortal mages hurled spells at the shadowflame abomination alongside the gnome. Vereesa was attempting to help, applying pressure to the gaping wound that went through the dragon's chest.

“Belore...” The elf was using her whole body to try and staunch the bleeding, only succeeding in slowing it by a fraction of a fraction. Aura's healing magic was regrowing the flesh and bones, but it was still too slow; even as dark-skinned elf from the tagalongs lent her aid alongside a surly dwarven priest. Between the three of them, the entry wound began to shrink at an appreciable pace.

“You see... surges of similar... Reverse the...” Aura could barely hear Martin over her chanting, the Paladin fighting for every last blessing she could muster. A massive thud heralded the felling of the corrupted beast, as well as the relieved sighs of the mages and adventurers.

“Guess I can put a claw on the scales.” Chromie bounded over to the healers, casting a spell that covered the wound in a slight golden tint. The sands of time seemed to fall faster as the wound sealed before their eyes, leaving an exhausted Aura kneeling against her love's scaled neck. The world went dark around her as Vereesa and the...

Wait, there were others, were there not? The memories were... fuzzy. She had been fighting against the wound with... with Vereesa at her side, and...

Aura finally collapsed into unconsciousness as the blue dragon unleashed his spell, the surge of power finally pushing her into the velvet abyss of unconciousness.