Chapter Text
The moment she saw the stars in the night sky, Hinata Winterbreeze knew that this place — wherever it was — wasn't Azeroth. The constellations she used to navigate were missing. Then there was the moon and the lack of one. The large pale moon that hung in the sky was not the White Lady, as her counterpart, a small blue moon, the Blue Child, was gone. Perhaps not gone, but did not exist here.
"Well, mates, we're stuck here for a week," a stocky, short male dwarf with a long orange-red beard said as he walked to his crew.
"Could be worse," a human said, his long black hair pulled back.
Hinata remained sitting, eavesdropping on the crew as they walked past.
"This is exciting," a male gnome with faded green hair exclaimed. He was another of the Lofty Sea Dragon's crew. He gestured his arms wide. "I can't wait to see what this place has to offer. So far, we've only encountered humans, but they speak an unknown language."
"Mm-hmm. They have great brew here," a male pandaren encumbered with large barrels beneath both arms and four more strapped to his back said. "Good thing that mage was able to enhance that linguist's spell. Because of that, we have managed to communicate."
The dwarf grunted. "Aye, only an hour at a time and bloody five-hundred gold!"
The sandy-haired and heavily muscular Kul Tiran chuckled, "Heard an alchemist has already made a potion that lasts a day. It'll set you back three thousand gold for one. Elixir of Babel, they call it."
I wonder how much they’d charge to teach that to me? Hinata pursed her lips and rested her hand beneath her chin.
The dwarf groaned. "Oft, I should've taken up inscription. Then I would be the one bankin' on a newly crafted means of talkin'."
"No way, engineering is the way to go!" a female gnome with purple hair and binocular-like goggles resting on her forehead interjected. A massive tubular gun rested on her left shoulder. She patted it gently and said, "Just wait until I get my newest baby going! I only need to download this world's language dialogs and find a sustainable battery. Then—" She moved the gun to aim and mimicked firing it. "ZAP! Whoever gets hit with this marvel of pure gnomish engineering will know how to understand and speak new languages permanently!" She offhandedly murmured, "Or have permanent neurological brain damage."
"I'm not being your first victim to test that..." The dark-haired man ran his hand over his head. "I'm still growing my hair from your last invention."
The Kul Tiran rubbed his arm and looked between his mates, "I've been on the sea for many years. This is the first I've heard of a land with such a name. Yu no kuni."
A female dwarf with dark skin and smoldering long hair added, "Least they're friendly enough. Most of them here at the docks are good tae trade and barter with. Military is reasonable tae. Told us all about these places we could go for relaxation. Hot spring resorts!"
The Kul Tiran male nodded. "I think these people are pacifists. They don't wear a lick of metal armor from what I've seen. The military is like rogues, but different. Call themselves ninja, or shinobi."
Hinata turned her head, watching the crew as they meandered to the large ship with supplies. Hearing them solidified her thoughts that they were on a different world. It wasn't that far-fetched. The horned, hoofed draenei were from an entirely different planet and crash-landed on Azeroth. Outland and Argus are the same world, yet within different timelines.
Hinata stared at the cup on the counter. The storm didn't just damage the vessel; it completely displaced us.
"Captain had one of the Tide Sages try tae get a portal going since we won't be moving 'til we can get the hull patched. They couldn’t. That void elf mage couldn't even get a stable port or even teleport."
"Yeah, well I heard the Captain talking about how they haven't been able to get any messages through or received either. They're saying this might be a new land. One that hasn't been discovered and may even have some types of blocks up to keep people from porting in and out."
"Damn," the dwarf groaned. "With everythin' happenin', someone's goin' tae have tae get that figured out quick."
Damn is right. Hinata turned an egg-shaped stone over in her hand. The blue spiral carved upon it was dull. It was her hearthstone, a form of magic that should have teleported her to the patron inn, The Pig and Whistle, in Stormwind. When she put her chi into the stone — for the seventh time that day — to make it activate, it remained dormant.
If there are magic barriers preventing porting on and off this world, it explains why my hearthstone doesn't work or why I can't zen pilgrimage back to the Temple of the Five Dawns. She sighed and set the hearthstone back into her bag. This is the worst possible time for this to happen. With N'zoth's threat gone, Sylvanas and Nathanos must be found.
The crew of the Lofty Seadragon traveled on, their words now out of Hinata's earshot. It most definitely was not every day when an uncharted region was found. Then again, Pandaria was found similarly, that is, after the mists lifted. Pandaria was on Azeroth, whereas Yu no Kuni, Hinata was certain, was not.
"Ooh, I taste the apple!"
Hinata turned her attention to her apprentice, a Tushui pandaren, Kama Jadefist. Within her pawed hands rested a small, now empty, o-choko.
Being a pandaren, Kama had ursine features. She was large and tall, with pearly white and midnight-black fur, a nubby tail, and smiling blue eyes. A short ponytail stuck up on her head, the red locks within made it look like a flame. Kama wore black leather armor with clasps fitted with jade buttons — typical of a monk in training. A conical straw hat currently rested on her back as Kama's staff leaned close to her against the bar.
"Delicious, isn't it?" the bartender grinned while corking the bottle. "I haven't had good sake connoisseurs here in a while."
At first, the bartender appeared flustered when he saw Kama. The locals hadn't seen dwarves or elves before, let alone know about the Worgen curse. The locals were not daunted though. They spoke to summons — animals the shinobi could conjure. The other day, Hinata saw a girl speaking with cats. The cats talked back. A man with a giant pangolin wearing a monocle and top hat lingered around the hot springs.
Hinata swallowed back the last of her sake and nodded. "It is good. You also have honey sake?"
"Of course I do." The bartender retrieved a different bottle and a clean porcelain o-choko. He poured the sake.
Kama rolled her eyes. "Missing the mana buns already, Grandmaster?"
Hinata tilted her head and deadpanned, "You are starting to sound like Ban-Lu."
Kama laughed. "Is that why you didn't bring him on this trip?"
"That's exactly why." Hinata shifted on the stool. "I also left him to be eyes and ears."
Kama frowned and looked at her cup. She switched the language to Common. "Nothing has been the same since the Fourth War."
Hinata nodded and, in Common, replied, "It may be over, but something else is coming." Hinata swallowed back her shot without tasting it. "We need to be ready."
The bartender refilled her o-choko. "How about you try to taste the sake this time?"
Letting the mage spell convert her words to the foreign language, Hinata bowed her head in apology. "Ah, wise you are." She raised the cup to the bartender and then sipped on it, letting the taste rest on her tongue. It had a poignant warmth from the fermentation and the distinctive taste and sweetness of honey.
"Mmm. Delightful," Hinata nodded as her cheeks flushed. "I need to fill my gourd with this! It's almost like eating freshly made honey bread."
She took another drink of the sake and let it linger on her tongue. Hinata licked her lips.
"I should just get drunk."
The bartender laughed, but Kama scowled. The man stopped and cleared his throat.
"Don't mean to pry, but why are your eyes covered?" He asked.
Hinata swirled the last of the liquid in the cup. "So that my enemies cannot predict or anticipate my next move, as the eyes are the window to the soul."
She downed the last of the sake. Being one up on the enemy had nothing to do with why she covered her eyes with a strip of white leather that bore a teal Touch of Karma sigil centered. It was because her eyes were odd — an anomaly. With pale lavender eyes that lacked pupils, most mistook Hinata to being blind. She wasn't. Not in the least bit.
Years of training, fighting, and war molded her into a lithe battle-scarred monk. Her long, dark hair was braided and pulled into a high ponytail, with a lavender strip that framed the left side of her face. Hinata's gear was specially made — a white leather vest accented with teal and lavender that exposed her cleavage and stomach. Instead of pants, she wore matching shorts, which, to some, exposed far too much of her tan skin. For Hinata Winterbreeze, her choice of garb was comfortable. As a monk, being able to move comfortably was crucial, even in cold snowy weather.
A gush of air fluttered the bar flags and Hinata's bangs. Dread curled her stomach, making her muscles tense and senses heighten. The atmosphere grew heavy.
"We should head to the inn," Hinata said, facing Kama. "It's getting late, and I want to head out tomorrow and explore the region while the ship's down."
"Explore? Yes!" the pandaren wiggled and clapped. "I was hoping we would!" She looked at the bartender. "Can we get these in kegs or barrels?"
"Barrels, sure? How much do you ladies drink?" he asked.
Kama smiled at the man, "Let's just say that brews and monks go together, just as fish and water."
"It's an important part of our craft," Hinata added. "I'd like five barrels of the honey sake, along with four of the regular sake, six of the apple, and twenty of that wasabi sake. I can't wait to blow fire with it," Hinata dropped a rather large coin pouch onto the counter and smiled.
The bartender lifted the sack and held it in both hands, measuring the weight. He nodded and smiled happily.
"Heard your ship isn't moving for a while. Three days, okay?"
"That will suffice." Hinata pushed off the stool and stretched.
"I'll have them delivered to the ship. And my lovely customer's name?" asked the bartender.
"Hinata Winterbreeze."
"Wonderful doing business with you, Hinata-san. I am Tuskasa, and your gold and gems you people barter with will always be welcome here." The bartender bowed.
Hinata smiled and bowed in return. "Good to know, kind sir. I'll keep this establishment as my patron bar whenever I'm here at the port."
"Bamboo sake!" Kama excitedly placed her own order. "Three barrels of bamboo sake! Surprise me with a mystery barrel! Kama Jadefist!" She quickly bowed, her paws pressed together before her face.
"A true connoisseur of sake! Three bamboo and a mystery barrel.” Tuskasa bowed twice and gave her a thumbs-up. “I will not let you down, Kama-san!"
"Have a night, Tuskasa," Hinata waved as she stepped out of the bar.
The alley was dimly lit by tall posts lined along the streets. Wires drooped to each one, with more stretched overhead to the building. Fog lingered throughout the area due to the hot springs further in the village. Walking down the street, Hinata pulled her lavender cloak around her shoulders and shifted the hood over her head.
"Are we heading out in the morning, Grandmaster?" Kama asked as she stepped next to the human, who was shorter.
Hinata nodded, "When the sun rises."
It was a lively area for the time of night. Lights burned through windows, and children happily played alongside the streets. Preteens hopped from rooftop to rooftop, laughing and joking. When they passed, a group of children stopped what they were doing to stare.
"Is that a bear?" a girl asked.
A boy replied, "It must be from a summoning contract."
Another boy gasped, "What if it's a bijuu?!"
"I doubt it.” He pointed at Kama’s rear. “It doesn't have much of a tail.”
Kama looked at Hinata. "What is a bijuu, and what does it have to do with my tail?"
Hinata shrugged. "Another word lost in translation. I'll get us some of those elixirs in the morning before we head out tomorrow. They'll be better to use than the spell."
Kama nodded. "We only have about—” She twitched her lips and pulled a pocket watch from her pouch. “Thirty minutes left until these fade."
The inn they were staying at was near the dock. Right across the street was a forest as enchanting as the night elves' home, Darnassus used to be, the exception being the ever-present fog from the hot springs. The trees here were different. Tall and huge, the trees swayed in the wind. Branches creaked as leaves fluttered. It was like they were whispering to Hinata, welcoming her home — which was absurd. Yet it conjured faded and soundless memories of a family she never knew.
For years, she searched for others with eyes like hers. Hinata started at fifteen in the wilds of Pandaria when the faction war spilled onto the Sha-infested lands. That was when Hinata was young and naive. When she heard about Lorewalker Cho's dream brew, Hinata hoped to discover more of her past. The brew — though delicious — revealed no answers. Hinata only envisioned the sky, trees, the moon, a vast ocean, and the pale face of a woman with dark hair and pale eyes like her own. The words she heard during the vision never made sense either.
When Hinata met and traveled with Prince — now King — Anduin Wrynn in Pandaria, he advised her to search the Eastern Kingdoms, giving Hinata hope of finding others with eyes like hers. When she didn't find anyone, Hinata traveled to Kalimdor to find no leads. She sought answers in the great magic city of Dalaran and even traversed the snowclad region of Northrend. The search stopped when the Burning Legion invaded.
Then the Fourth War consumed everything.
"Are you alright, Grandmaster?" Kama asked in Common.
Hinata stopped walking and looked at her apprentice.
Kama stared at her, "You have that faraway look on your face."
"I have been thinking," Hinata intoned. She began walking down the street as the fog thickened around them.
"So have I," Kama glanced up at the sky. "Have you noticed that the White Lady looks different here? The past couple of days, it seems she's larger than usual. Close enough to touch." She looked at Hinata. "I have not seen the Blue Child either."
Hinata's lips pursed. "We're no longer on Azeroth. I can feel it. These lands, this entire world, it's not ours."
Kama frowned. "I was hoping that what I felt during meditations was wrong. That I was just riled up because we were somewhere new, but now hearing it from you and seeing what I have seen. This place is more—"
"Advanced," Hinata shifted her cloak around her. "I would give all my gold for indoor plumbing to be introduced back home. The hot waterfall they call a shower is amazing! They don't even use magic from what I've seen to make it all work!"
"Personally, not having to go outside to an outhouse is good enough for me. Though I do wonder where it goes when you flush it?" Kama tilted her head.
Hinata shook her head. "Don't know. The indoor lighting is different too."
"Yes! They don't even use magic to keep food cold or fresh; they have those box things. And then how electricity powers their buildings and the immense use of light bulbs instead of candles."
Nodding, Hinata glanced up at the power poles. "They have many lines strung about that carry the energy from building to building." She frowned, "Some look like massive tangled vines. The locals don't seem to believe in magic. I've seen them use spells. They use their hands and strange gestures, and they call it, ah, what was that word? Oh, jutsu?"
Kama snapped her fingers. "That's it! Jutsu."
Hinata glanced at the pandaren. "None of those we've passed have been on mounts. These people either walk or run. I've only seen one caravan."
"No portals or flight masters either. How long are we stuck here?" Kama asked.
"Hopefully not long." Hinata frowned. "This place, the vibes I have been getting are not bad, but not good either. It’s foreign."
"I hope we are here long enough for their festival that is about to take place." Kama smiled and gestured to a banner strung overhead, "They call it the Rinne Festival."
Hinata gazed at the decorations that lined the streets and buildings. The gathering fog slowly concealed them. "I wonder if it's like Winter's Vale back home."
Back home, on Azeroth. Hinata looked to the fog-blanketed forest to the west. What happened that we've ended up in another world, and how are we going to get back?
Kama giggled, "Do you think the Greatfather will find us here?"
Hinata looked at her, "Maybe you should ask if the Greatfather will even visit you this year."
Kama blew a raspberry and crossed her arms. "I know I was good this year. The real question is, were you, Grandmaster?"
Hinata snickered, "Of course not."
They turned down a street where the inn resided. The entire street and buildings were lost in the fog. Hinata sensed they were being watched. The dread returned with a gust of cold wind.
"Grandmaster," Kama uttered as she looked at the fog. "I am getting an eerie feeling."
Scowling, Hinata gripped the handle of one of her fans. “Always trust your intuition, apprentice.”
Soundlessly, something landed before them in a crouch, causing the fog to shift and swirl. The thing slowly stood, revealing glowing yellow eyes. Its silhouette was slender and tall, and when the mists parted, they saw it wore dark garb that covered its arms, legs, and face. The body was concealed behind white wraps. Upon its forehead was a band with a crescent moon and a circle. Another silhouette appeared at their sides, then another landed behind them. Within seconds, the monks were surrounded.
"Are they part of their military?" Kama asked.
"I don't think so."
Drawing on her chi, Hinata activated her Deadeyes. The veins on her temples bulged, unseen due to the strap she kept over them. Hinata learned through trial and error that her eyes could do many things. With training and battle throughout the years, she learned her limits — and pushed past them. Hinata could see everything around her — a near-perfect three-hundred-and-sixty-degree view that expanded like a dome. She could see up to fifteen miles if needed. At the moment, she couldn't see past five feet.
"The mist around us isn't normal; it's blocking my sight." Hinata moved her cloak around her face as a muffler. "Try not to breathe it, Kama. It could be poisoned."
Kama nodded, tugging her scarf from her neck. “Right.”
Though Hinata couldn't see through the fog, her sight could see that the beings around them weren't alive. They were being fed foreign energies, and many of them were within close range.
"They're like wicker men, but something else," Hinata said in Common. "An outside source fuels them. They have no energy of their own. Where the source comes from, I can't tell yet."
"We find the source, we can get rid of them," Kama said, her voice muffled by the scarf.
"Let's see what they want first."
Kama scowled, "You want to seek a peaceful solution?"
"I want to know what we are dealing with first,” Hianta stated. “Foreign lands, foreign magic.” She let the mage linguist spell convert her words, "You have us surrounded. Have we done something wrong? What is it that you want from us?"
"I want you, Hinata," a male replied, for his form to materialize into their view.
Not an actual man, but a projection. His skin was pale, his hair white, and he wore neutral colored robes. A green sash was tied at his shoulder and draped over his chest. His robes exposed his neck and the magatama tattoos. The stranger’s eyes were closed, and they didn't seem right. Almost as if he didn't have eyes at all.
Hinata pointed to herself, "Me? I am a stranger to these lands." She stepped forward. "What do you want with me? Who are you?"
"I am Toneri Otsutsuki. I am the one who brought you here, where you truly belong."
So this man has everything to do with the ship being displaced. Hinata pursed her lips. He is most likely the key to us returning to Azeroth. Great...
"Why do you cover your beautiful eyes, Hinata?" Toneri asked.
Hinata rested her hand on her hip, "Get to the point. What do you want with me?"
Toneri smiled, "For you to come with me—"
"No."
The smile on Toneri's face faltered. "Be appreciative of the lengths I went through to bring you home!"
"You have me confused with another. This isn't my home." Hinata shifted her cloak, showing her weapons at her hips. "Now that is settled, kindly tell me how to get my people back to where we belong, or send us back to Azeroth."
Toneri tilted his head, "I could do that." He simpered, "But I won't."
Hinata intoned, "What if I make you?"
"You have been away for far too long…" Toneri tilted his head, his expression unreadable. "You will understand once you are at the castle. Our time has come, for this world is doomed."
"Like we haven't heard that multiple times now," Kama scoffed.
Looking to the sky as the fog swirled around them, Toneri smiled. "Yes, everything is in place." He nodded and extended his hand to Hinata. "It's time to go."
"I am not going with you, Toneri."
"Perhaps not." He slid his hands into the sleeves of his robes. His smile widened. "On your own accord."
The construct behind Hinata grasped her arms and yanked her back. The one in front of her conjured a glowing sphere of green energy and moved toward her.
"Grandmaster!" Kama shouted, to charge the construct.
With an enraged shout, Hinata kicked the approaching construct. The glowing sphere popped. Kama struck the one holding Hinata, causing its grip to loosen. With a shout, Hinata flipped the construct holding her overhead into the other. Free, she struck it with a tiger palm, sending both constructs stumbling to the ground. All at once, the other constructs converged. Hinata paralyzed the one on her left, as Kama struck the one on her right with a clenched fist. A swift kick sent another construct to the ground.
"You will not take me by force," Hinata shouted. She blocked, dodged, then kicked another construct away. "No matter how many of these constructs you send, we will strike them all down!"
"We are destined, Hinata Hyuuga. You are mine."
"Destiny is an illusion,” Hinata stated, dodging a kick. “I forge my own path of my own accord! I belong to no one!"
"I see."
More constructs rushed her. Hinata fought them off, but with each one that fell, two more replaced them.
"These things are worse than murlocs!" Hinata snarked to Kama.
She expected Kama to reply. The pandaren didn't. Knocking a construct back to jab another in the shoulder, Hinata rolled back. The fog was thicker, her Deadeyes unable to see beyond two feet. Gripping her bladed fans, Hinata opened them. Drawing on her chi, Hinata raised the fans overhead and quickly twisted around to conjure a gust of wind. Instead of jade mist typical of monks, a purple mist swooshed through the area, clearing the fog.
Kama was held and muffled by two constructs. She thrashed and kicked, yet the constructs had her held tightly; Kama’s feet were off the ground. A third construct pushed a glowing green orb into Kama’s chest. Instantly, the pandaren stopped struggling and became limp.
"Kama!"
Hinata knocked the constructs away with a spinning crane kick and rushed to her apprentice. Quickly, she disabled the remaining constructs. Dashing at them, one let Kama go and counter. The one holding Kama leapt to the nearest rooftop.
Hinata turned to Toneri, "Release her!"
"The final day is fast approaching, Hinata. We are destined by royal decree. Before the time comes for this world to end, I will return.” Toneri’s face was emotionless, his voice sure. “You will come willingly then, that is, if you ever want to see your pet again."
With a roar, Hinata charged him. A construct moved between them and took the full blow of Hinata's white tiger fist. Violet chi crackled from the strike; the construct blasted apart. Toneri's form shimmered to fade away from view.
A shadow darted across the moon. A massive bird-like construct dived down. The humanoid construct holding Kama jumped back and landed on the bird's back. Without a sound, they rushed into the sky. The other constructs retreated.
"Kama!" Hinata screamed.
She reached into her hip pouch and pulled out a small stone carving. Gathering her chi and focusing it into the figurine, Hinata summoned her mount Xi-Qi. Mist from the summons gathered for a massive jade quilen in golden armor to appear. It roared and stretched; its stone body clanked, and armor clanged. Sheathing her weapons, Hinata mounted. Instantly, the quilen took off in a run. It leapt, and glowing transparent jade wings manifested. The quilen flew into the air, giving chase.
The vulture construct was fast. Hinata lowered herself to her mount's form, willing Xi-Qi to pick up speed. No matter how fast the quilen flew, the construct was faster. It flew toward the large and thin sailor's moon. Abruptly, bright light illuminated the world as if it were daylight, momentarily blinding her. Hinata shielded her eyes, deactivating her Deadeyes as a tremendous boom shook the air. Xi-Qi reared to a halt in the air.
A massive speeding ball of fire streaked across the sky, roaring as it burned. The meteorite left a trail of smoke over the western sky. It was similar to when the Burning Legion attacked. The difference was the color. This meteor left a bright white-gold streak of light, whereas the Legion's were green with fel.
The meteor hit the land, exploding near the glow of a city. Xi-Qi growled as he floated in the air, awaiting an order.
"What is going on?" Hinata rubbed her temples and squeezed her eyes closed.
Is this what he meant? How is this world doomed?
In the distance, the meteorite burned, reflecting an orange glow amongst the remaining clouds. There was no time for a side quest. Hinata tightened her grip on the reins. Taking a breath, she focused her chi and opened her Deadeyes.
The faint traces of teal tapers in the air were from Toneri's constructs. They lingered in the air, leaving a trail for Hinata to follow. Kama's chi was strong and bright; her energy tapers a vibrant jade.
One way or another, Toneri will send us back to Azeroth. Hinata nudged her heels into the quilen. That is, if he values his life.