Hard Decisions Part VI

I watch Stormwind Keep loom ahead of me as lightning continued to fill the sky. I noticed some peons working along the main castle, busy collecting lumber and gold. The paladins and rangers suddenly rushes from the forest attacking the surrounding buildings. I was quite surprised that from behind the barracks came a dozen grunts and two headed ogre-mages. Cries of "blood lust" is heard as the invasion continues, the paladins finished off some grunts and charged for the main castle. The rangers focused their attack on the oncoming ogre-mages, with the help of "healing" as the ogre-mages bashed upon the rangers. I followed the rangers as I hid behind farms, killing anyone who dared stand in my way. Suddenly a sickening sound came as a green flash of energy flew by me by a death knight and hit a paladin. The paladin responded with a loud dong and the death knight exploded. The other paladins healed the paladin who was injured and continued to attack the barracks. I later found out paladins had a spell call "exorcism" and was attacked by the spell called "death coil" that was used by death knights.

Ace: *quickly turns around to see an ogre-mage looming over me*
Dentarg: *begins to bash me* Die human!
Ace: *rolls to a safe distance and unsheathes my royal demon blade*
Dentarg: *sends out runes and entraps me* foolish human!
Ace: I'm seeking my fiancée, I have nothing against the Horde.
Paladins: Ace? What are you doing here?
Rangers: Ace? Who are you? *kills off a grunt*
Dentarg: lousy humans, you'll all die! *bashes a ranger killing it*
Ace: *slices at Dentarg* take that then you imbecile!
Paladins: Ace get out of here it's too dangerous! *slices a grunt*
Rangers: No! *sends multiple arrows at Dentarg*
Dentarg: *laughs* Teron will finish you!
Ace: *I leap straight into the air and sends a fireball at Dentarg*
Paladins: *shocked* fireball?
Rangers: Ace you know fireball?
Dentrag: no! *takes 50% damage and flees* I'll be back!
Ace: yes I learned two new spells my friends.
Rangers: *smiles* that is good Ace. *goes and destroys the barrack*
Paladins: that is good that you learned such a powerful spell. *attacks the blacksmith*
Ace: paladins and rangers stand guard until I find my fiancée, she is inside as I feel her presence in my heart. *goes towards the main castle, killing the berserkers ahead*

I charge forward slicing frantically and leaving a trail of dead bodies as I now face Stormwind Keep. Suddenly a storm of axes come at me from the castle, I dodge left then right avoiding them as best as I can. From high above Stormwind Keep, I can't help but notice two red eyes glaring at me in a yellow cloak. I felt a piercing sting as one of the axes strikes upon me but I continue onward seeking my love that is entrapped within the castle. I quickly reach the castle gates, I was surprised to see Lutra, Majiorkui and Kyuieno when the gates opened.

Lutra: *laughs* We've got Lenora, Ace. Come and save her pathetic fool!
Majiorkui: Where's Alleria, Ace? I want to kill her!
Kyuieno: lets see how you fight by yourself without your friends!
Ace: All of you are imbeciles! *sends a fireball it hits Majiorkui and Kyuieno*
Lutra: *shocked and sends a fireball of her own*
Majiorkui: *takes 50% damage and collapses*
Kyuieno: *takes 25% damage and stumbles towards Majiorkui* No!
Ace: *stabs Majiorkui and slices his head off as I roll to dodge the fireball* Who's next?
Kyuieno: *flares his eyes up and clutches his Vulyun blade* you will die!
Lutra: No! *flares her blades up and slices me* Die!
Ace: *with a twist I slice at Kyuieno breaking his blade and splits him in half as he charges*
Kyuieno: *collapses in his pool of blood as his top half of him flies into the moat*
Ace: *blocks Lutra's attack sending her flying against the wall*
Lutra: *collapses face first onto the floor*

I rushed into the castle expecting to see many guards but to my surprise, I see none within the castle. I explored within Stormwind Keep to find mostly peons and I approached one.

Ace: *slams the peon against the wall* Tell me where are the prisoners kept?!
Peon: *nervously replies and points to the stairs* yes milord its over there.
Ace: *slices his neck* thanks! *goes towards the stairs*
Peon: *collapses in his own pool of blood*
Teron: *casts skeleton over the dead peon and disappears into the darkness*
Skeley: *follows me downstairs*

I cautiously explore the tunnels beneath the castle, the lower chambers are lighted with a dim shade of light and I can barely see anything. I put the royal demon blade in front of me in a defensive position, waiting for any guards who dare approach me. I notice a faint rattle of bones from behind as I walked, I quickly turned and did a crescent kick at my enemy into his jaws sending him flying against a wall. A couple of grunts saw me as I was busy with the skeley.

Grunts: Intruder! Go warn Teron!
Ace: *hears footsteps backing away* cowards!
Voice 1: Humans make me sick! *unsheathes his blade*
Grunts: hail Grom!
Grom: *laughs* you come all the way here for nothing human.
Ace: *sends a fireball into the hall killing some grunts* you won't stand a chance, Grom.
Grom: *shocked* a mage as well... *slice at me with his blade*
Ace: *grins* but of course I'm prepared for the likes of you.
Grunts: We're no match for him Grom!
Grom: even a mage is weak without his magic. *takes 25%*
Ace: lets see how long you will last! *sends fireball at Grom*
Grunts: *flees* we get Teron!
Teron: *sends death coil at me* imbecile, face Teron!
Ace: *grabs a grunt and blocks the death coil* not so easily!
Paladins: *sends exorcism at Teron* Ace the rangers are battling Deathwing outside!
Teron: *feels his flesh burning* no! *sends death and decay into the halls and flees*
Paladins: *rushes after the grunts* get out of here Ace! Death and decay is very deadly!
Grom: *slices at the paladins* wretched humans!
Ace: I will soon, after I get Lenora! Defend for me! *charges forward and kills the remaining grunts*

As the battle continues, I continue forward leaving the clashing of swords and sounds of death as it filled the halls. I noticed a door marked prisoner to be executed tomorrow morning and bashes the door down to see my beloved Lenora against the wall on the floor weeping.

Lenora: leave me alone you nasty grunts! *cries*
Ace: Lenora! *rushes by her side and holds her tightly* it's me, Ace.
Lenora: my dear, is it you? *rushes over to me and cries in my arms*
Ace: we're safe now my love... *wraps my arms around her*
Lenora: I miss you my dear... *sniffs* I thought I'll never see you again.
Ace: I'm here and you're safe is what is important my love. *kisses her passionately*
Lenora: how I miss your kiss my love... *kisses me back lovingly*
Ace: *picks her up and goes out of the room* lets go Mike and Alleria are waiting for us.
Lenora: *holds onto me tightly* I love you, Ace.
Ace: I love you too, Lenora.
Lenora: I was so scared Ace...
Ace: *hands her the twin blades and chest armor* these will protect you my love.
Lenora: *puts on the armor and takes the twin blades*
Ace: I'll protect you as well my love...

We left through the chambers walking through the dead bodies that was slaughtered earlier. Four paladins and 2 rangers waited outside as I approached them with Lenora in my arms. I look around me as most of the buildings are on fire and peons slain across the ground. Lenora rests against me within my arms as I walk towards our friends announcing were okay. Suddenly a huge shadow covers the skies as though an eclipse has occurred.

Deathwing: *sends fireballs at the paladins, killing 2 of them*
Rangers: *sends arrows at Deathwing* get out of here Ace!
Ace: *flees with Lenora in my arms* thank you rangers!
Teron: *sends death coil killing a ranger* feeble attacks won't save you!
Paladins: *sends exorcism at Teron* die Teron!
Lenora: Ace, I'm scared...
Teron: *explodes leaving a pool of acid*
Ace: *looks down to her* don't worry my love we'll reach Lotharean soon.
Deathwing: feel the power of the Horde! *kills the last 2 paladins*
Rangers: *sends a Golden Chaos arrow into Deathwing*
Ace: *quickly casts "blizzard" at Deathwing*
Deathwing: *falls from the sky as Arctic blizzards crashes upon it*
Lenora: *goes over to Deathwing's corpse and takes it's armor*
Rangers: the danger is cleared Ace, lets continue.
Ace: yes, lets return to Lotharean and bring news of our success.
Lenora: I'll give these to Dragy. *smiles and follows me*

Lenora and I soon reached the castle of Lotharen. Lothar and a grand army of paladins and rangers welcome my return. I wave victoriously to the alliance and bows to Lothar. Dragy flies over to Lenora licking her cheeks happily as she approaches. The castle gates open wide as we entered admiring the busy markets. I take Lenora into a local tavern for something to drink then visit the main castle.

Lenora: *giggles happily* missed you too Dragy.
Ace: *smiles and feeds the dragon* Dragy! Lenora has a surprise for you.
Dragy: Acey! *flaps her wings happily as she eats*
Lothar: *walks in with his 8 paladins and takes a seat in the tavern*
Lenora: *bows to Lothar* Ace has spoken highly of you.
Ace: *waves to Lothar* I've found my fiancée and defeated most of Stormwind Keep.
Dragy: *rests on Lenora's shoulder* Lenny!
Lothar: greetings Lenora, Ace mentioned me?
Ace: *gestures a bar lady to order* service please! *waves*
Lady: kind sir, call me Selece, *smiles* what will you be having to drink?
Lothar: get me some Ale, Ace.
Lenora: mango cocktail will do most wonderfully my dear. *smiles*
Ace: yes I mentioned you Lothar. *turns to Selece* and I'll have what Lenora is having thank you.
Selece: *takes the orders* coming right up. *smiles warmly to me*
Lenora: *pets the Dragy and puts Deathwing's armor over her*
Lothar: why thank you Ace, it's my duty to get rid of the Horde.
Lutra: *collapses by the door with slashes across her back*
Ace: well Deathwing is dead, Teron exploded and I think the Horde is gone.
Lenora: *shocked* Lutra?
Lothar: *goes over to Lutra and sits her up* paladins heal her.
Ace: *surprised that she is alive* Lutra, I thought you were dead.
Paladins: *casts healing to Lutra* yes milord.
Lutra: *bows to Lothar and me* please Ace don't kill me, you've already killed Majiorkui and Kyuieno. Lord Maikhan would not be pleased that I've failed, please accept me in your army. *kneels*
Selece: *returns with the drinks and places them on the table* enjoy.
Lothar: Stormwind Keep is destroyed? *smiles* well Ace, lets drink to your victory! *raises glass* cheers!
Ace: get up Lutra, I accept your loyalty and welcome. *raises glass* cheers!
Lenora: *curtsy to Lutra and raises glass* cheers!
Lutra: *deeply moved by my actions* thank you milord. *wipe tears*
Dragy: *flies away* Lotharen!

Lothar, Lenora, Lutra and I head towards the main castle where we're going to spend the night. As I approach the main hall, many soldiers and paladins of my quest greeted me earlier this morning. I asked Lothar where is our chambers for tonight as I was exhausted after the daring rescue. Lothar points forward and up the stairs that is to be our room. I nod to Lothar and parted with Lutra and Lenora. When we approached the room I saw Alleria and Mike coming out of their room across from ours. Lenora and I waved and said our good nights so we can speak the very next morning. Lutra very tired, goes to the next room next to ours and rests. Turalyon and Lothar comes around the corner and waves to us as we went in our room to sleep the night.