Near Death

"Oblivion Awaits" - www.youtube.com/watch?v=5G7-df…
(Play this song before you begin)

As I laid upon the blackened ground upon the world of Char, after a long and hard victory against holding the Zerg back to protect the artifact- a long and hard All In had been taken and victory was ours. However...during the chaos and ruckus, someone had come behind me and deliberately shot me...through my heart. I had gone wide-eyed to slowly look to the bloodied wound, slowly turning behind and seeing someone I never thought would betray us so easily, infiltrating our group and fully taking me out without a merciful thought. I never saw his face as it had been covered, truthfully enough, but to see his gun smoke from the bullet fired...was enough to make me realize it had to have been one of Mengsk's men- but the true fear that struck me was that it was one with an accent to match one which resonates a cowboy's own.

"Y'know...for a short bastard..." He spoke, "Ah should have taken you down fully upon Korhal when no one was looking. And now...I can remove the greatest threat to mankahnd..."

"...Y-...You..." I could only stutter as I cringe from the pain, "...He trusted you...and you will know his wrath..." I groan, "...Damn...you..."

He smirks as he walks off, placing the spine shot from a Hydralisk near me to cover his guilt and prove he never shot him. Nevertheless, I could only fight the inevitable death- its cold embrace slowly enveloping me as my breath was slowly drawn its last. The faint sounds of gunfire still heard as  they whiz past my limp body, soon fading from life itself as my body grows cold.

--

Within the light, I slowly float towards the center as my eyes were the cold blue stare I had as a Death Knight, lifeless and endeavoring the pact of what the Lich King bestows all that were forced into service and of his power.

"You have lived...you have fallen...you have resurrected as my agent..." the dark spirit said, clearly Arthas, "And now...you will be born anew and no longer under the control of Tirion..." There was a faint laughter as he approaches

"I have lived life the way I wished..." I softly spoke, "...I lost my wife...my child...and what have I to prove I've gained other than the friends of the Counsel...and of the King and Warchief? All had been for naught as Stormwind will soon be overrun with the people I lead, as they have been fed up with my disappearance...I have lost my world......do your worst..." I slowly lift my arms and accepted my renewed fate, to become one of his again- I would never know I would murder those I called friend- I will be an Outcast...and nothing could stop him this time.

"Away, you foul wretch!!"

The spirit of Arthas looks to his left as he was overwhelmed by a ball of fire, screeching in pain as it disappears. I slowly open my eyes as I felt a soft hand on my rugged cheek- and such a touch I could only know as my fallen wife; I look to her as she had a soft and tender smile, one I missed for so long and the only thing I could do was hug the spirit of my wife. I gently tear up and clench my eyes shut- was this real? Was this...reality that I've come back to? I could only question myself as a tear streams down my cheek as I choke my own wife's name, "...T-Tati..." I said weakly, barely showing a smile as I only wanted to hold her for the rest of time. Sadly...the moment had passed as she gently pushed me back, showing a small frown. 

"It is not your time yet Ace..." she said "...Your time will come......your friends need you..."

"But......T-Tati, I..."

"I know... she gently kissed my forehead as she now showed a weak smile, "You'll see me...you will soon enough my love...go......know I always love you..."

--

I suddenly open my eyes as I take my breath once more, living as I looked to the cloudy and bleak atmosphere of Char. Slowly I raise my head as I felt so sore, obviously. How long I've been passed out I wasn't sure- but all I can sense was my limbs  trying to move and yet...they weren't able to make one inch off the ground nor in any other direction. I look around again until my gaze came upon a rose of the sweetest red, freshly cut from a garden. I slowly choke on my breath and realized Tatyana had given me something I would have never expected...and it was the same rose too, so small and fragile within my robotic fingers. I could care less if the smoldering heat nearby was burning and releasing gases into the air high above- all I could ever gaze upon was that very rose as it was the same one I gave to her on our very first date after relieving the world of the Ogre King in Dire Maul. How it came into my grasp I would never know- all I could do was smile so weakly as I teared up again, carefully grasping the rose more in my reach and hearing only her singing- her beautiful piano skills- and her violin work with an orchestra backing her up every step of the way. I could hear her clearly as I look to the skies again.

"...Soon...my wife......soon..." I said quietly as I look to the rose again.

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GAH, FEEEEEEEEEEELLLLLLLLLLLS! ;______; Please tell me Ace wasn't the only one almost crying when reading the dialogue! PLEASE!

Anyway...this is artwork for The Swarming Eclipse far ahead (SO spoilers everyone, but I don't give a care) and it's my first pic in a long while and in the year 2016. Ladies and Gentlemen, you have all been so amazing over the years...I cannot express how much you've moved me from being alone to having friends. Thank you so much...I mean it from the bottom of my heart. (uwu

SO! I am also letting you know I haven't given up on The Swarming Eclipse, I just need a little more time. Be patient.

Tatyana -

Ace - (Yours truly)

Everything else - Blizzard Entertainment (c)

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