Aerv slowly woke up, still being weak from... he alone did not know. It was as his whole memory from childhood, teenage years, early adulthood... Everything that was in the past apart from his very own name, wiped. Torn away from him. Leaving him to start a new life... as what? What will he do without his memories?
Aerv looked around him. Pitch darkness everywhere apart from the beam of light shining down on him. The room, if he should call it that, was big and cold. Bigger than anything he has ever seen. It was as if it were infinite in every direction. He tried to move, only to find invisible binds holding him still in a sitting position. He tried using his magic, but he forgot all the spells he once knew!
"AERV", echoed a voice, as loud as a thunder, as if it were the voice of the god himself. "YOU MAY HAVE MANY QUESTIONS, BUT IT IS NOT YET TIME TO REVEAL THE ANSWERS. YOU WERE BORN WEAK, BUT YOU SHALL DIE STRONG. YOU WILL FIND YOURSELF A COMPANION, NO DOUBT ABOUT THAT. BUT YOU WILL NOT GET THE MEMORIES BACK. THERE'S A WHOLE NEW WORLD OUT THERE, SUBJECT, AND YOU WILL LEARN TO LIVE IN IT. THE ONLY THING WE SHOULD REVEAL NOW IS... HARMONY IS GONE. NOW GOOD LUCK, SUBJECT, AND DO NOT DISAPPOINT US."
The binds have suddenly disappeared, along with the beam, the only lightsource. It was all pitch black again. Suddenly Aerv felt slight pain on his cheeks, along with weak flash of light. That kept repeating, getting brighter and more painful with each event. He could hear slight voices, but could not tell what they were saying. Until the final event, which woke him up at last.
"Oy, good mornin', lad!" said the unknown earth pony standing above him. He was rather small for a pony of that age. "I thought you were dead for a moment! Don't you scare me like that!"
"W-where am I? Who are you? What..-" His last question was interruped as the small stranger pulled him up on his hooves.
"Now, now, ya'll get yer questions answered soon, but first you gotta drink something! Great anvil, you look as if you were stuck in desert without water for a week! Here, drink this," the dart pony said and gave Aerv a big flask of red substance. He drank it immediately. The it tasted like cherry and strawberries, but the aftertaste was a lot different. As soon as he finished, he looked around, only to see that he was standing in a rather big church.
"So, what's yer name, lad?" the small stallion asked. Aerv's mind went blank for a moment, but he slowly started to remember it.
"A-Aerv, sir...-" was all he could say before being interrupted again.
"Brimstone! Nice to meet ya, lad. Now, considering ye appeared here, it means that you were reborn to be a fierce warrior. Don't worry if you aren't one yet, we will make sure you become one. Now, do you remember anything from your past?"
Aerv thought for a minute and then said: "Apart from my name and my age completely nothing, sir...-"
That's all he managed to say before being interrupted by the armored small pony again "No, no, no, no, no, no, no. Yer my friend, lad, and I won't stand being called 'sir' by my friends. Now, here's some clothes for starters and a plain sword," Brimstone said and gave Aerv the named items. "and yer can dress up right here. It'd be a bad idea to go out in underwear only, don’t ya think?".
Aerv blushed at the thought and dressed up as quick as he possibly could in the silk blue shirt and dark blue pants. His coat was normally dark blue itself, making his white spikey mane the only bright part of his body. “What now, Brimstone? Can I begin with questions now?” Aerv asked.
“Of course ya can, lad! Fire away!”
Aerv hesitated for a few moments before asking the obvious question “Where am I?”
“Why in Eastern Kingdoms, ofcourse, a friendly part of this Azeroth, the beautiful world we live in!” Shot out Brimstone, as if he was ready for this question.
“…oh… what about… how did I get here? I remember some dark room and loud voice, but… then I just appeared here… how?” was Aerv still confused.
“Ah yes, that… Y’see, kiddo, you have reached the part of your life where you have to abandon everything and start a new life. You are on step one. Many of them appear right here, reborn to be Warriors or Paladins to fight against evil. Others with more magical talents are reborn in the Mage’s tower, where they’ll be serving as either Warlocks or Mages. Anyhow, I am deeply sorry for your family if you had one. They miss you a lot, but ya have to move on. In this world you have a chance to be a real hero, and especially YOU have a lot of potential to become one. Now, let’s get outside and teach you how to handle that stick of yours,” Brimstone said and started walking outside, Aerv following him close by. They stepped out on a backyard filled with training dummies, wooden swords and shields and surrounded by a big white wall. “Well, kiddo… your training begins now.”
Our little white-maned champion spent the next few weeks running circles around the yard, shoveling dirt, attacking training dummies, all to get stronger before heading out into open world. All until one day, when Brimstone returned later than usually and slowly walked into the yard, where Aerv was still training.
"Stop for a moment, lad." said Brimstone with a rather serious look on his face, more serious than usual. "..and meet me in the dining room, we need to talk."
...what's going on? Did I do something wrong? Aerv thought and slowly walked into the dining room.
The dining room was big with three chandeliers above the tables and a few lit fireplaces along every wall and large banners representing each class they train there and colors of a few major cities. Brimstone was sitting behind the main table with the same dark look he had before. Aerv sat down on the other side of the table, facing Brimstone.
"Aerv.." Brimstone begun while Aerv was sitting in dead silence. Brimstone took out a letter and slid it across the table so it reached Aerv. The letter was addressed to Aerv himself, so he picked it up and opened it. He started reading the letter, which said:
Dear Aerv,
upon hearing from my good old personal instructor Brimstone, I could not hesitate to write this letter.
I, Miffy of the Argent Crusade, along with Allot the Twilight Vanquisher, hereby invite you to join our guild, where we fight for peace and freedom of this land.
In our guild, you don't become just our friend, but a brother. We take care of each other, your past sins will be forgotten, you will get proper training along with gear, meals and of course, gold. We have been the best guild for at least 5 winters in a row.
So please, if possible, meet me in the Blood Rose tavern in Stormwind for more information.
signed: Miffy, Allot, leader and co-leader of the proud guild Guardians of Azeroth.
Aerv looked back up as he finished reading, only to see Brimstone have a big grin.
"I am so proud of you, lad!" he said and jumped over the table to hug Aerv.
"But... But.. How.. Do they know about me...? I have never even seen the outside.." said Aerv.
"I might have slipped a word or two about you in some taverns and pubs.. But to think that someone that new got invited into the best guild there is.. And that's the FIRST time that has ever happened! Lad, do you know what a honor that is?!" the dwarf pony laughed, slight tears coming out of his eyes. After a few more moments he finally released Aerv from the hug. "Now take a bath and get dressed, we're heading to that tavern tonight!" he said and Aerv went upstairs without words to do just that.
After all that Brimstone led him through the most beautiful forest Aerv had ever seen. The oak trees seemed like they were at least a few hundred years old, but still standing big and strong. It seemed like there was no war here in a very long time and this land was just filled with harmony. The dirt road seemed long but soon they arrived in front of Stormwind, it’s outer walls being bigger than any house.
After a couple more minutes of walking through the trade district of Stormwind, they soon arrived to the tavern they were set to find. The Blood Rose. The inside was cozy, a few Stormwind guards sitting by tables eating a meal or drinking beer or cider, and the fancy-geared mare by the pub. Her large shoulder pads were glowing with light blue light along with her enormous claymore that was lying against the pub. She didn’t seem to notice the dwarf pony and stallion’s entry into the tavern, but as they walked in closer she turned around.
“Welcome back, Brimmy. Brought me that hero of yours, I see.” The mare put her cider down on the pub and walked towards the two. She started inspecting Aerv and after a few moments she finally extended her hoof towards Aerv, and he shook it in slight surprise.
“The name’s Miffy, Miffy of the Argent Crusade, leader of the great guild that you were invited into, Aerv. So, do you accept our offer to defend this land against all that is evil?”
Aerv’s thoughts were racing around. Too much has happened that day for him. “Y-yes, madam” he answered, not really knowing what he has gotten himself into.
“That’s fantastic news, private! From Brimmy’s words I knew you could be useful, but I did not expect you to be this strong and .. handsome..” She whispered that last word. “Even on first looks you look like you’re ready to fight evil along with us! Oh, and don’t let me forget..” Miffy reached for her bags and took out a medium-sized pouch and gave it to Aerv.
“1500 gold coins, a welcome gift into our guild. Are you ready to say partial good-bye to your instructor Brimstone and start training with us?”
Aerv hesitated for a moment and looked at Brimstone, waiting for his response, but all he got from him was a slow nod
“…Yes, madam. I am. And hope I can visit Brimstone from time to time.” Aerv replied.
“Of course you can! You will be almost free to do anything you want outside your training. As soon as you don’t go causing any trouble, that is.” Miffy replied and giggled. “Now, pack your things and be ready to move out. We have blacksmiths and weapon smiths that will supply you with armor and weapons when we get to our headquarters. Be ready in around half an hour to be teleported there. See ya!” and after those words, Miffy just disappeared in a small cloud of smoke.
“Woah… you’re one lucky stallion, you know that, lad?” Brimstone said. “She usually dislikes new members, but she almost seems like she has fallen in love with you. She even WINKED at you, lad!” Brimstone started laughing of happiness.
“Yeah… I just hope it’s as good as she said it is. Well, better get going, right? Don’t want to waste precious time we could’ve spent preparing.” Aerv said and started walking back towards Brimstone’s small castle. After he arrived, he quickly put all his clothes and items into a few bags and said good-bye to Brimstone, and after a few moments, Aerv disappeared in a cloud of smoke aswell.