In the main hall, I looked at everybody gathered here. Elune was on my right with some Wild Gods from her realm. While the Ancients and Treants were also her people, they were not present as they were not suited for wars.
Winter, who was on my left, also brought commanders of the Wild Hunt. Leader of the Wild Hunt Herne and his deputy Korayn were before me, together with other leaders.
Lunara, Maiev, Tyrande, Malfurion, and Illidan represented their forces, Watchers, Wardens, Sisters of Elune, Circle, and Demon Hunters, respectively. They stood directly in front of me with some deputies and assistants.
Right next to them were the remaining Elven leaders, Shandris, Valeera, Kor'vas, Sylvanas, Vereesa, and Alleria, who were here as generals of Sentinels, leading the divisions consisting of the races they represent.
Another group present was Dragon Aspects, along with Scalecommanders of Dracthyr, Emberthal of Adamant Vigil, Azurathel of Obsidian Warders, Cindrethresh of Dark Talons, Viridia of Healing Wings, and Sarkareth of Ebon Scales.
The Dracthyr changed from soldiers of dragonflights to their own race living next to Dragons over time. While some Dragons wanted to keep them in direct control, the Aspect stopped that notion, knowing that it would only lead to rebellion in the future, the same as they rebelled from the tyranny of Galakrond.
The last person present was Cenarius, who represented Dryads and Nymphs. His children and other descendants joined together as Guardians of the Emerald Dream, willing to stand side by side with others to fight against enemies of the Dream.
~"So it's begun."
~"That is correct, Winter. Forces of Horde and Alliance are heading for Broken Shore, wanting to deal with the invasion before it could start."
~"Foolish. Legion could have arrived silently, without them noticing, yet their Archmage was able to give warning? This is a trap as obvious as it could get."
~"They have their confidence inflated after the Cataclysm."
-"Your Excellency, are we to assist the surface forces?"
~"No need, Shandris. This campaign is doomed to fail. If we were to join it, we would only incur casualties."
-"I believe we can support unavoidable retreat of the surface forces."
-"I agree with Maiev. Sending some Wardens and Demon Hunters can buy time for them to retreat safely, while our elites won't have a problem in escaping when the time comes."
-"I'll also prepare Sisterhood to be ready to then to the wounded."
~"I'll leave that to the three of you. I was thinking of setting a trap of our own on Kalimdor. I already pulled out the World Trees back to Emerald Dream, but with assistance from Elune, we could create trees that would look alike for Legion to target."
~"That would be easy. But if we leave them undefended, they won't take the bait. I don't believe that you wish for us to have casualties just for some ambush."
~"Of course not. I will use my mage tower here to control an army of puppets that will defend those cities. If we use the correct spells, demons won't notice that they are fighting dolls until it's too late."
~"This can work."
~"While I keep up the appearances, Wild Hunt, Watchers, and Circle will harass the Legion in a similar nature to how we fought during the first invasion."
-"Leave the guerrilla warfare to us, grandfather."
-"The warriors of Wild Hunt are at your disposal, Lord."
~"Thank you. Malfurion, you will take command of that battlefield. Try to coordinate the movements with my puppets."
-"Yes, Your Excellency."
-"Your Excellency, what about Sentinels?"
-"I also wanted to ask about your plans for the flights, Yue."
~"When we lure part of Legion deep into Kalimdor, I will cooperate with Cenarius and Guardians to keep them there, using seals and other methods. When they are captured, you will open the rift to Argus."
-"Just as you planned before."
~"Indeed. The Legion would have three fronts to fight on, and knowing Sargeras, he won't waste resources to save those trapped on Kalimdor, giving us time to seal them once and for all."
-"Our job will be to exert pressure on their home world, buying time for you and the surface forces to deal with enemies on Azeroth."
~"Not only that. I want you to locate the Seat of Pantheon."
-"Nozdormu, you will lead the search while Malygos will assist you. Neltharion, you will command the main force on Argus, and Ysera will act as quartermaster."
Four Aspects nodded in acknowledgment of Alexstrasza's orders.
-"Scalecommanders, you are to act with Sentinels during the offense."
-"Yes, Red Queen."
~"This should do for the main plan of action. Does any of you have some additional proposals?"
-"Your Excellency, what about surface forces? Are we going to have them assist us on Argus offense?"
~"I don't have any connection to those forces, so including them in our plans and structures would be cumbersome."
-"During our rescue, I will establish a channel to contact them later."
~"Then please do so, Tyrande."
-"We can use the artifact to free some of the Scourge and turn them against the Legion."
-"It's too risky, sister. It would show that we have contact with the Jailer that may backfire on us later."
-"We could try to locate some other enemies of the Legion."
-"It's too late for that. We can't waste time, and the enemy of an enemy may not be a friend."
-"Then how about..."
We continued the discussion for the rest of the day, making some minor additions to the plan. After the meeting was concluded, I moved to the mage tower in the palace, which I started calling the Moonlight Tower.
Inside, I started to create the false army needed for our trap to work. Using my power of nature to create wooden puppets, I used Spirit Runes to make them appear as Elves. Controlling the already created puppets to assist me with the creation of the next ones, I was able to form a thousand-strong army in a week.
While I was at it, the disastrous Battle for Broken Shore took place, decimating forces of Alliance and Horde, and if not for our help during their retreat, they might not had a chance to return at all. Both forces had lost their leaders and thus needed to reform both army and leadership, effectively knocking them out of the war for the foreseeable future.
This acted to our advantage as, aside from a small army to keep them in check, the main force of Legion moved toward the Kalimdor. Druids and Wild Hunt had already littered the forest with countless traps while Watchers were ready for their first ambushes.
The puppet army was stationed around False Nordrassil, which was the main target of the Legion forces. It was still living proof of their total failure in the previous invasion, so they wished to destroy that tree no matter the price.
The moment the demonic hoofs landed on the shore of Kalimdor, the skirmishes started to take place. As my puppets had the strength of an average Sentinel, they couldn't defeat demons in one-on-one combat, but thanks to using the terrain to my advantage, for every puppet destroyed, a demon would fall.
This would mean nothing, as the killed demon would return shortly after being reborn in Twisting Nether while the puppets were constantly being created by me. Making the defense appear to be desperate was to make Legion push more forces to this front.
The Watchers targeted non-demonic forces of the Legion, especially the Felsworn. During one of those attacks, they captured Elf, who was among the troops of the Legion but surrendered the moment Watchers appeared.
She was in a tragic state, partly withered from the lack of power used to sustain her in the Twisting Nether, as well as being partly corrupted by the Fel power. She was brought before Lunara, who took her directly to me. She now stood before me in the Moon Palace, looking at me with strange eyes.
~"To think we would meet again, Thalyssra."
-"Indeed, Your Excellency."
~This has to be the first time you call me as such. I can still remember you following your Queen's example in despising me."
-"I apologize for that."
~"Let bygones be bygone. Tell me, why do elves stand on the side of the Burning Legion?"
-"After the Sundering, Suramar became isolated from the rest of the Azeroth, as we believed that the world outside was destroyed. We lived in peace for many years, but one day, a messenger of the Legion arrived, ordering us to surrender."
~"And you agreed."
-"No! Not all of us, at least. There is rebellion fighting against those who surrendered and became Felborne."
~"Tell me what do you want."
-"We want to save our people from the Legion and tyranny of Grand Magistrix Elisande."
~"You are lucky to ask for that and not for helping you recapture the city."
-"Your Excellency, I just wish for my people to live free lives again, not being bound to Nightwell for sustenance. Even if I'm to be put on trial for all my wrongdoing of the past, I still beg you."
I stopped her from trying to kowtow.
~"Don't make me into some kind of tyrant. While I indeed don't have any fondness for you and most of the Highborns, especially if they followed Azshara in her foolishness, I will put those emotions behind me. Lunara, bring her Maiev and make Wardens assist her and the rebellion."
-"Yes, grandfather."
~"As for you, Thalyssra, prove that this second chance is something I won't regret."
-"I will."
When the two of them left, Winter appeared from inside the palace.
~"You shouldn't have done this. Those Nightborne are a liability, and not only might they betray you, but they even come from Highborn who worked with Legion once before."
~"Yes, but they still fought against them when they saw what the Legion truly was, preventing the second portal on Azeroth from being opened."
~"They are still an unnecessary risk."
~"True. But I don't regret giving them a chance."
Winter shook her head and returned to her matters. I also teleported back to Moonlight Tower, focusing on the puppet army.
My fight against the Legion continued, the forests of Kalimdor being burned to ash, with only False Nordrassil and its surroundings being green on this side of the continent.
The war on Kalimdor lasted for long enough that the Alliance and Horde were able to rebuild their forces, wanting to launch a counterattack, but Tyrnade stopped them, making them wait to coordinate their attack with us. They agreed but gave us only a week, after which both forces would act on their own.
Deciding to take this as a cue to close the trap, I, along with druids and Wild Gods, started setting the seal around the Legion forces. Two days later, everything was ready.
When Archimonde was about to destroy the World Tree, we activated the spell, enveloping the main force of Legion. A series of light pillars rose to the sky, creating a cage around the Demons. From now druids will watch over the spell, reinforcing it when needed to make sure that no one escapes from inside.
When the cage was set up, I teleported to where Malygos was finishing preparations to open the rift.
-"Everything went smoothly?"
~"I can hear angry roars from the trapped demons even here."
-"Heh, how could they expect you would use the holy land and World Tree as bait."
~"They couldn't, and that's why it worked. Ready to deliver them the next surprise?"
-"Of course."
Two of us started to cast the grand magic Malygos created a long time ago. Unleashing Arcane power that could be felt around the world, we forced open connection between Argus and Azeroth.
High in the sky, a massive split appeared and grew with each passing moment. As everyone on the surface was looking at it, another planet started emerging from inside.
In minutes, Argus fully materialized not far from Azeroth, stunning both demons and people of Horde and Alliance. The first ones especially, as they recognized what this planet was.
-"Done. Even if they wanted to close that rift, they wouldn't be able to do it quickly."
~"They won't have a chance even to try."
-"I'll go and join my flight. The offense is about to start."
~"I won't stop you. I'll make sure that Sargeras won't interfere directly."
-"Stay safe."
~"You too."
I returned to the Moon Palace, watching over the progress on the front from here, and from how much Burning Legion is getting pushed back, I wouldn't have to act either way.
The Legion was left with only one-third of its forces, and most of those remaining were Felsworn, who won't revive after death, while some were turned into undead, undead were easier to deal with than Demons.
While the fight continued, I looked at the situation in Suramar, where the rebellion of Nightborne was taking place. Maiev and Thalyssra were engaged in combat with Elisande, not giving her a chance to escape.
The battle was one-sided, as Maiev was never one to play around with her opponents. She was one of the strongest champions even during the War of the Ancients, and over the years, her strength only grew.
Elisande, who was pushed to the corner, made a desperate move, drawing power from the Nightwell. With newly gained strength, she started using time powers carelessly, but even this wasn't enough to regain the advantage.
It only took one mistake for Maiev to end the fight with a swift slash. With their leader felled, loyalist forces quickly surrendered, marking the successful end of the rebellion. The Nightfallen quickly gathered around Thalyssra, celebrating their victory.
I teleported nearby, wanting to personally hear what decision she would make. Only Maiev noticed my arrival, but understanding that I didn't want to be seen, she just nodded in my direction.
-"Lady Thalyssra! Now that we have regained our city, we can once again reclaim our righteous place!"
-"Yes!"
-"..."
-"Lady Thalyssra?"
-"Valtrois, are you here?"
-"Yes, you need me?"
-"What is the state of Nightwell?"
-"It's stable. Despite Elisande's actions, she was stopped before something could happen."
-"Valtrois, if I were to remove the addiction from all Nightborne, what would happen?"
-"Hmm... The power of the Nightwell would be exhausted, but there should be enough of it. This is if you ignore Felborne, of course."
-"If I want to include them?"
-"You would have to burn the well to extract more power."
-"Gather the Loyalist. I want to speak with them."
-"Thalyssra, what are you thinking about?"
-"Valtrois, I'm just doubting something."
-"Speak, maybe I can answer your doubt."
-"We followed the lead of Her Majesty the Queen, but were her words and ideas truly correct ones?"
-"You think about Him?"
-"Yes."
-"For all I know, Queen never told why she hated Malorne. I would advise you to decide based on what you know and believe, not what you thought and heard."
-"Thanks, Valtrois. Let's go to the Nightwell."