Deren was having afternoon tea at his home in Theramore, writing something beside him, when Jaina walked out through Portal.
"Come with me quickly," Jaina said urgently. "Where is Onyxia? Marshal Windsor from Stormwind City is hunting the Black Dragon siblings and needs her to explain. Lady Aegwynn has brought the situation under control, but the old marshal is agitated."
The quill pen in Deren's hand fell with a "thud" onto the parchment, the ink spreading into a dark cloud shape. He rubbed his temples, feeling a headache coming on.
What was bound to happen has finally happened— Onyxia's grudges in Stormwind City are now being repaid. Windsore has been sent by King Varian to hunt down the Black Dragon. And the matter of his wife's previous infiltration of Stormwind City, instigating conflict between the Stone Masons Guild and the nobles, is finally about to come to light.
Although this whole affair was fundamentally caused by the greed and arrogance of the nobles, Onyxia was the mastermind behind it all and cannot escape responsibility. Now that the aggrieved party has come knocking, the Black Dragon must explain her dark past.
" Chromie!" Deren called to his most trusted ally in Theramore, "We have to go to the Mage Tower, Windsore is here. You take care of things at home."
Chromie was lying on the sofa reading a picture book and munching on a cookie when she heard Deren's words. She jumped up excitedly. "Oh, the moment of historical reckoning? Do I need to transform into Dragon to intimidate them?" This Bronze Dragon really loves to stir up trouble.
"No, this time we need peaceful means." Deren strode towards the door. "Go and fetch Onyxia, tell her to turn back into human form... Is she in human form now?"
"Strolling around the market," Chromie said, making a face. "We're almost at the door."
Ten minutes later, Jaina's Teleportation Spell spell illuminated the Mage Tower's reception hall. Deren and Onyxia in her human form emerged from the blue light. The scene before him made Deren gasp—
Twelve fully armed Paladin formed a fan shape around Nefarian in the corner, Holy Light flowing along their blades; Marshal Windsor stood at the forefront, his gray beard trembling with anger; Aegwynn stood between the two sides like a primary school teacher, her young and beautiful appearance creating an eerie contrast with her old-fashioned reprimanding voice.
"--So how many times have I told you? Control your Dragon Awe's might!" Aegwynn was tapping Nefarian's head with a rolled-up spellbook. "Look how scared you've made the old man!"
Nefarian clutched his head, his black robes making him look like a student who had done something wrong. "Teacher, I was wrong. But they're charging at us with swords."
Deren noticed Onyxia's body tense instantly. Her gaze was fixed on Windsore, her slender fingers unconsciously tightening around the hem of her skirt. Deren quietly squeezed her wrist and whispered, "Remember our promise."
"Ah, you've all come." Jaina greeted her with a sigh of relief. "Marshal, please allow me to introduce you—"
" Onyxia!" Windsore's roar shook the Crystal Chandelier. He pointed his sword at the Black Dragon Princess, "So it really is you, you cunning demon!" He had studied the documents seized from Blackrock Mountain and was basically certain that Katrana was the incarnation of the Black Dragon Princess Onyxia.
The living room instantly became tense. The Paladin ' Holy Light formed a dazzling net, while Onyxia raised her chin, and Deren could feel the dragon scales surging beneath her skin.
"Stop!" Deren stepped between the two sides, his breath catching in his throat. "This is a negotiation hall, not a battlefield! Marshal, please give me five minutes to explain!"
Windsore's sword tip trembled slightly. "Explain what? Explain how this Black Dragon sowed discord between the Stormwind City nobles and the Stone Masons Guild? Explain how many innocent people died because of her?"
"I did do those things," Onyxia suddenly spoke, her voice unexpectedly calm, "But I didn't do anything afterward!"
These words stunned Windsore. The old marshal narrowed his eyes. "What do you mean?"
"It means," Deren continued, "That when Onyxia was taken away by me, she reformed and stopped doing bad things." He had asked Aegwynn if there was any magic that could split a person in two. The former Guardian stared at him like he was an idiot for a long time. Finally, he told him that it was the power of the gods.
An eerie silence fell over the drawing room. The Paladin exchanged bewildered glances; they were prepared for a dragon-slaying battle, not a moral debate. Windsore's expression was one of utter sourness. "So I should thank you for stopping her in time?"
"No," Deren looked directly into the old marshal's eyes, "I want her to apologize for what she did. Oni, speak."
Onyxia took a deep breath. Deren knew how difficult it was for this proud Black Dragon Princess —she had manipulated power in the shadows for centuries, never bowing to "food" before. But to his relief, she had taken a step forward.
" Marshal Windsor," Onyxia's voice seemed to be squeezed out through clenched teeth, but it did come out, "I apologize for my actions in Stormwind City. That political manipulation... it really went too far."
Under Aegwynn's glare, Nefarian reluctantly stepped forward. "Uh, sorry about what happened at Blackrock Mountain?"
Deren almost burst out laughing. This was probably the most awkward apology in Azeroth's history, but it was indeed a historic moment—the first time the Black Dragon siblings had apologized to the victim.
Windsore's expression was priceless. The old marshal glanced at the two dejected "humanoid Dragon," then at the serious-looking Deren and the hand-on-hips-hips -Aegwynn, finally fixing his gaze on the barely suppressed-laughing Deren. He slowly lowered his sword, his voice filled with disbelief. "You... tamed Deathwing's offspring?"
"It's education, not taming," Deren corrected. "They're not inherently bad; they just lack proper guidance." To clear the Black Dragon siblings' name, the only way is to blame Deathwing. If he has any objections, he can come here and have a proper debate.
"Lack of guidance?" Windsore shrieked. "They're plotting murder, coups, war!"
Aegwynn suddenly clapped his hands, the crisp applause interrupting the argument. "Children, now listen to the old man's opinion. These two Black Dragon did indeed do wrong. But they have realized their mistakes, apologized to the victims, and are willing to compensate or be punished."
Nefarian reluctantly pulled a roll of parchment from his robes, while Onyxia took a small notebook from her waist. Deren took it and handed it to Windsore: "Look, this is their guarantee!"
Windsore unfolded the parchment with suspicion—it contained crooked human writing, a " Blackrock Mountain Evil Repentance Guarantee Letter," signed " Nefarian." The smaller notebook contained a neatly written "Apology for the Evil Deeds Committed in Stormwind City and a Guarantee to Never Repeat Them," with tiny Black Dragon doodles in the corners of each page.
"This is impossible." The old marshal flipped through the papers as if they might suddenly transform into dragon flames. " Black Dragon dragons are inherently cunning; this must be a disguise!"
Second update