• Part 1 found Here
    Part 2 found Here

    Rhonoa's hoofbeats echoed among the cavernous halls of the new chamber. Her eyes slowly adjusted to the darkness, but it still overwhelmed her sight. She took cautious steps forward, but her pace quickened. Soon, the Chieftess felt a drop in her steps, and paused before continuing.

    This time, a blue flame erupted overhead, illuminating the room. Rhonoa remained silent, but her mind was racing, as she looked overhead. Countless spirits drifted about in the roof of the chamber; all Tauren. She peered up, attempting to find the spirit of her mate, but found nothing that closely resembled Huatar. Before her, as she allowed her eyes to drift back down, was what seemed like an Amphitheater. Warily, she stepped down into the center of the stone Colosseum, reaching for the Earthspear. The voice of Grimn bellowed out, echoing along the great walls.

    "Years ago, many Earthspear met their fates in a single motion that nearly destroyed us. Now, their spirits are in unrest. Great daughter, you are the one that must put them to rest." Rhonoa blinked, but braced herself as several spirits flew down into the arena. Four, in count, each wielding a spear. Rhonoa studied her opponents carefully, the Earthspear tightly gripped in the Chieftess' paws. Before she knew it, the four of them came upon her, but she was ready. She dropped down to a crouch and sprinted past one of the attacking souls, to get room between her and her assailants.

    In her paws, and in combat, the Earthspear felt light as a feather, as if it sensed it was in battle. Rhonoa smirked to herself as she swung it effortlessly before the assailing spirits. One charged at her, but was immediately met with the blade of the polearm. The Earthspear cut through the spirit as it would with mortal flesh. The ectoplasmic soul dissipated as it was struck, and now Rhonoa only had three more to worry about. One attacked her, nearly catching the Chieftess off-guard, but she parried the blow once and leaned back to avoid another swing. She continued the dance of parrying and dodging, with each armed spirit, striking only when there was an opening. One by one, and in a span of at most five minutes each, the spirits dissipating before her. But as they disappeared, four more came to take their places. The process repeated, Rhonoa effortlessly cutting through each of her enemies with the weapon of her mate, as if she were born to wield it.

    The ceiling of the chamber soon darkened of spirits, with only several remaining. Each spirit were easy to deal with, and soon Rhonoa had stood alone in the center. She looked around, warily, expecting her next challenge. Rumblings in the earth directed her attention to the other side of the chamber, where another opening was revealed.

    But as she took a step forward, she was knocked back by some unknown force, throwing her on her back, the Earthspear knocked out of her hand. She rose, and as she did the four spirits of the past Chieftains materialized before her. Each wielded a weapon - previous incarnations of the Spear, she could decipher. She made a reach for the current Earthspear.

    "You have made it this far, great daughter...You have truly shown your loyalty, your faith, and your love for our last descendant," Bronn said, "We are impressed at your determination."

    "However," an elder voice sounded from one of the spirits, "As you have made it this far, there is one more challenge you must undertake...One that will test you beyond your abilities."

    Grimn nodded in his ethereal state, "You must fight all of our bloodline. All of us. You must best us in combat, before you may continue your search for your love's spirit." Each spirit wielded their weapon with a vigor that Rhonoa could easily discern.

    But Rhonoa was ready, her hooves firmly planted and the Earthspear tightly gripped in her paws. The Chieftains made their first move. She remained on the defense, bringing up the Earthspear to block and parry any blow. She matched each attack precisely, the shaft of the spear blocking the blades of the others. Each Chieftain was a force unto themselves, quicker, and possibly more powerful. Rhonoa parried each blow effortlessly, however, and moved with each attack around the ring. The Chieftains did not let up, keeping her on her defensive stance.

    Finally, she saw her opening. One of the four Chieftains had his spear raised high above his head; Rhonoa simply jutted the spear towards its ethereal chest, stabbing into the spiritual flesh. One Chieftain fell, but three more remained.

    Bronn was the most violent, and the most aggressive. Each blow made by him forced Rhonoa back with each strike of his incarnation - the original incarnation - of the Earthspear. She did not let up on her defense, looking for potential openings or weaknesses in the remaining Chieftains.

    At last, she found one in the next. She ducked under his swing and stabbed the Earthspear deep into the spirit. Like the one before it, it dissipated. Now only Bronn and Grimn remained, but with this Rhonoa understood Huatar's prowess in battle came from Grimn especially, and this was made known during her battle with them. However, the only true threat to her was Bronn, who remained aggressive. Grimn's was familiar, as it was the style and form Huatar employed during his countless battles, and so she was able to effortlessly block and dodge each of his attacks. She could find no clear weaknesses in either of her assailants.

    She soon began to grow weary, but did not let up. Rhonoa was determined to return her mate, and she would do anything to make it happen. Her thoughts and vigor returned to her, and finally she went on the offensive; a move that neither of the remaining Chieftains anticipated.

    Ferociously, Rhonoa twirled the Earthspear around her, blocking all of Bronn's and Grimn's attacks, while attempting to cut in a weakness she could not see before.

    At last, she found one in Grimn in her flurry. His hand was knocked aside, open for an easy attack. So, too, was Bronn open. She ducked under his swing and turned the Earthspear to knock both spirits off-balance. She stabbed the spear's blade into Bronn, and the other end into Grimn.

    Both spirits at last dissipated. Bronn's voice was clear as it echoed through the cavernous chamber.

    "You have proven yourself to be worthy of the Spear...A fact that I am most proud of, great daughter...You may continue, but make haste...We can sense tension and distrust in those that encompass the Earthspear today."

    Rhonoa panted, worn from her battle, but steeled herself nonetheless. She entered into the darkened opening without further question or remark.

    As soon as she did, it closed behind her. The new chamber was darker than the others she had passed through, leaving her barely able to see her paw directly in front of her. This time, an amber flame lit up in the ceiling.

    What she saw made her heart sour.

    His spirit was within the chamber, floating in the center, surrounded by his four ancestors. She could see that he held a smile unlike any other, showing his pride for his mate. Rhonoa made no hesitation to approach, sprinting up the inclined ramp towards the spirit of her love.

    She threw herself at him, wrapped her arms around his ethereal body, as if he were there physically. He obliged, wrapping his arms around her, both holding each other, afraid to release. The four Chieftains all smiled.

    It was Grimn who was first to speak, "You have, indeed, proven yourself worthy of the Earthspear, daughter...Your love for my son has strengthened your cause in returning him to your world of living."

    Bronn nodded, "We are all proud that he has found such a strong, determined, and faithful mate...And so, we will grant you what you have wished for."

    Huatar released her from his hold, taking a step back. He remained silent as he allowed his ancestors to speak for him.

    "His spirit has been found, and so shall be returned...Shall he live, the Earthspear will continue. The weapon is nothing more than what it is; a weapon used to protect the family of its wielder. The Earthspear has been, and always shall forever be, within the spirit and body of its Chieftain. However, through young Huatar's trials, he had infused the weapon with each of our spirits, and we had gladly lent our strength to him through this."

    Rhonoa did not understand, but Grimn continued.

    "To ensure the Earthspear shall survive, the weapon must be destroyed...And reforged, by the hands of Huatar, himself. His strength and wisdom, which have been influenced by the Chieftains of old, will be passed on through the new spear."

    "The spirit of it still remains within you, young Rhonoa," Bronn remarked with a soft, fatherly smile, "With your child. It will be Huatar's duty to ensure that your child will manifest his abilities during life. That is why Huatar must live, so that future generations of your family will..."

    "He is the only hope of our bloodline," remarked one of the lesser-known Chieftains, "With him, we will continue. Should he fall, the Earthspear will fall as well."

    "And now, we will grant you the wish of returning him to the mortal plane...Offer the spear, great daughter."

    Rhonoa nodded, and held out the spear. It was lifted out of her paws, and levitated itself above Huatar's ethereal spirit. The four Chieftains chanted in an incomprehensible manner as the weapon span in place. The room was alight by the bright glow of the Spear's runes, and was soon encompassed by an overwhelming sphere of white light.

    The four Chieftains all faded on cue, offering their spirits to the spear. As they each entered into the globe, Huatar looked down upon Rhonoa. He held his paw for her to hold, a tear running down his cheek.

    Rhonoa smiled and held his paw, firmly.

    "I will see you..." he began, "...when I come back."

    The bright globe of light encompassed him, and with a loud bang the spear was shattered. In Huatar's place was a vial of bright liquid.

    "Take this to him...Offer it to him...His spirit will then be his own, once again...And he will live on to become more than he ever was."

    As the light went away, Rhonoa simply stood in awe before reaching down to pick up the vial. It was cold to the touch. As she lightly gripped it, light overtook her and clouded her vision. She felt light-headed, her eyes pained by the bright glow of the silver sphere.

    And then darkness...and the chattering of crickets, and the howling of wolves. She rose, finding herself in Mulgore; the green grass flowed with the gentle breeze. She breathed in, happy to take in clean air once again.

    But then her thoughts drifted back to her task, and she looked down at her pouch. The vial was still within.

    She did not hesitate. She rose and made her way towards Thunder Bluff.

    ---+---

    With hardly a word, Rhonoa walked through Thunder Bluff. Earthspear that were gathered questioned her motives, but followed her nonetheless. The vial was still safely tucked in her pouch as she stormed into to the Spirit Rise, the congregation of Tauren following after her with raised questions and concerns about the Chieftess' behavior. They entered into the Forgotten Pools, where the chamber was packed and filled with Tauren of all walks of life, as well as some interlopers and spectators - chief among them Jaru'Bek Morningblade, who stood idly by as he watched.

    The waters below them held the figure of one they all knew and cared for, his limp body floating lifelessly in the water. Rhonoa studied her mate's form, fighting back a pained frown. She turned to those that gathered around her.

    "I apologize to you all for not staying in contact with you..." she began, her eyes looking across the large group, her voice resonating through the chamber, "The spirits had spoken to me."

    She received several nods from the Earthspear as they all listened, "I had traveled to the Ancestral Grounds, at their bidding, and undertook Trials that I believe Huatar had taken once before." She scanned across the faces of those present, "I cannot tell you what can be said later...All I can say is..."

    Their attentions were now fully upon her, "...The Earthspear shall rise again."

    Several Tauren raised their eyebrows in confusion, but Rhonoa did not explain further. She entered the bright, shimmering pool to her fallen mate, digging into her pouch for the vial that was given to her. With a tight, firm grasp she turned his body facing up. Thankfully, to all of their senses, the waters had kept him preserved for the time the Tribe was in disarray. Rhonoa pried open his maw, opening up her vial.

    She prayed silently to herself, "Please, let this work..." She gently tilted the vial and poured its contents within.

    Everything was silent for a moment. The only sounds made were the pattering of waterdrops from the cavern's ceiling upon the rippling surface of the fountain. Rhonoa stood patiently, determined that it would work, her visage unchanging. She stared down at the preserved body of her mate, silently praying for it to work. The others watched, many confused. However, after a few moments of pause the unthinkable began to occur. Whispers sounded through the caverns, and the area around the Forgotten Pools. Those standing outside of the cave felt the breeze quicken, the winds themselves entering into the dark caves. This kept up for several moments, everyone dazed and confused at the natural occurrence. All except for Rhonoa, who remained stoic.

    The whispers became loud enough to not be ignored, muttering an undecipherable prayer.

    And with a pained gasp, and the opening of his eyes, Huatar was back among them.

    "Earthmother be praised! It's a miracle! He walks among us, once more!" was all his ears were filled with as he thrashed about in the water of the pools. A tight, firm grasp brought him into the shallow ends, to give him time and room to breathe normally.

    "Always oversleeping," his mate joked, chuckling as she did so.

    Huatar could not help but smile.