---

---

Hearth's Warming Eve has come and gone and that night was strenuous to say the least. That Passion Tulip really kept them going...

The effects of the Tulip also continued for the next day as it slowly wore off making them much more affectionate and heavy cuddle bugs. I'm not complaining though, the attention was nice.

For the last three days, we've been training and practising with our aspects. I can finally control four of the sunflowers at once, just two more to go.

I've also been spending three hours a day with Keanu, getting him used to my presence.

---

We've all got up, dressed and had breakfast. Luna and I are waiting near the portal for Vortigan to arrive and let us know when this meeting starts.

After a few minutes he walks through and greets us. "Adrian, Luna," he says with a slight bow which we return. "It's good to see you again."

"Likewise, Vortigan. So, are the preparations for this Warlord ready?" I ask him.

"Yes, a conference room has been set up and is perfect for our discussion, but we'll also have a few guests with us as well. King Ivan Bronzebeard of the dwarves. King Sylvaan of the elves. Tide Priestess Hisana of the aquarians, and even Empress Jin'lee of the kitsune," he tells us.

"We see. It would be good to meet the other leaders of thine world," Luna replies.

"I have told them about you as well, and they all look forward to meeting you," he says.

"Great, has the Warlord arrived yet?" I ask.

"Not yet, but scouts have reported that he's been spotted heading to Elysum, alone and unarmed as he said he would be. It's estimated that he'll be here within the hour,"

"Okay, should we head to the Conference Room now or wait for his arrival?" I ask Vortigan.

"You can go now if you wish. I have a room prepared for you both as well," he tells us.

"Thank you. What do you say Luna? Wait in the conference room or wait in our room?" I ask her.

She smiles and holds my hand. "We wouldn't mind waiting in our room," she replies.

"Very well then, I'll have a servant take you to your chambers and then tell you when the meeting is about to start," he says.

We walk through the portal and a maid leads us to our room. We spent about forty minutes talking and cuddling each other on the bed until a maid told us it was time. We follow her to the Conference Room where a dwarf with plate armour and a long braided orange beard and an aquarian with a dress that looks more like something for a ceremony are sitting at a large round table. There's a large pot of clear water next to the Priestess, probably for her water legs spell.

They look at Luna with surprised expressions. "He weren't kiddin' when he said she looks like a horse," the dwarf says.

I frown at him while Luna just smiles. "We art a pony actually. Our name is Queen Luna, but thou may just call us Luna," she replies.

The dwarf looks a bit embarrassed. "My apologies lass, I meant no disrespect. I'm King Ivan Bronzebeard, and ya'll can just call me Ivan," he tells us.

The aquarian speaks up next. "And I am Tide Priestess Hisana. It is my duty to guide my people to a prosperous future," she tells us.

"Tis a pleasure to meet thee both," Luna replies.

We take a seat next to each other and wait for the others to arrive. About five minutes later after some small talk, a very old looking elf with a nature themed robe walks in with a crown of golden leaves.

"Took ye sweet time didn't ye?" Ivan tells him.

"I believe I am on time dwarf," the elf replies with a calm tone. He then spots Luna and raises an eyebrow. "And are you the Equestrian Queen I've heard of?" he asks her.

"We are. Our name is Luna," she replies with a slight bow.

"Hmmm, intriguing that another beast race has shown itself. We believed the Kitsune to be the only ones, orcs and aquarians a close second," the elf says.

Seems Luna didn't like being referred to as a beast. "We are ponies, not wild animals. Call us a beast again and we shall make thee live thy worst nightmares," Luna threatens him.

"And she has a bite to her. Forgive my poor choice of words my dear, I am King Sylvaan," he replies with a bow of his own.

I just roll my eyes. 'Elves, always think they're better,' I think to myself.

He then looks at me. "And are you King Adrian? The one who stopped the undead giant?" he asks me.

"I am," I reply.

"Impressive, I look forward to seeing where you go in the future," he says and takes a seat.

Next to arrive is a small four foot tall white furred bipedal fox girl with an orange and white furred male kitsune in armour just standing beside her. 'Is she the kitsune Empress? She looks way too young to rule a nation.'. "Um, hello?" she asks timidly. Oh gods, she's like a younger Fluttershy.

"Yer Just in time, lass. Take a seat, we're just waitin' on Vortigan and Warlord Grom'Thak Tar now," Ivan tells her.

"Oh erm, okay, thank you," she replies and takes a seat next to Ivan. "M-My name in Jin'lee. I-It's nice to meet you all, and this i-is my Guardian, Kienmon," she says with a low bow. In doing so, she accidentally hits her head on the hard stone table. She yips in a high pitch and starts sniffling while rubbing her forehead.

"Here, let me help," I say and point my right hand at her. I cast a single life element and heal her bruise.

She stops her whimpering and smiles at me. "T-Thank you," she tells me.

"You're welcome. I'm Adrian Stormsword," I reply.

"And our name is Luna Stormsword. Tis a pleasure to meet you Jin'lee," Luna says making me smile when she used my surname herself.

The others also tell her their names. As we wait, I notice Sylvaan glancing at Jin'lee and Luna with a look of curiosity.

"Sylvaan, why do you keep staring at Jin'lee and my wife," I ask him with a neutral expression.

"My apologises, we all know the kitsune are the results of elves trying to fuse elven blood with an animal to give us enhanced senses four-hundred years ago. The project was abandoned after the kitsune were... born, if you will. Tell me my dear, are you the result of such a project as well?" he asks Luna.

"Most certainly not, we art over a millennia old, thus we pre-date thy... experiments," she replies.

"So your race is only a thousand years old?" he asks her.

"Thou misunderstand. I am over a millennia old," she tells him, having to slip out of her archaic speech.

The others look at her with wide eyes. "Ye mean to tell us yer immortal, lass?" Ivan asks.

"We are. As are my sister, niece, herd sister, and husband," she replies.

Ivan then looks to me. "Yer an immortal too?" he asks me with even more surprise.

"Kind of. I'm ageless, not immortal," I reply. I really wish Luna didn't mention that as Sylvaan now has this unnerving glint in his eyes.

"And how did that come about?" Sylvaan asks.

I just glance at him. "I'm not sure myself, I was in a coma when it happened," I reply. I'm not going to tell him that, the look he's giving us is just disturbing.

It seems he's not happy with that answer, but any reply he has is cut off as Vortigan and a large pale green orc with a long white twin braided beard enters behind him wearing nothing but a loincloth. He has scars all over his body, most likely from all the battles he's been in.

"I see we're all here, then let us get started," Vortigan says and sits in his ornate chair. Grom'Thak Tar takes the seat between me and Vortigan. "Thank you all for coming, as this meeting will most likely affect how the orcs will live from now on," he tells us.

Grom'Thak Tar then speaks up. "I have come to firstly apologise," he says in a deep voice and bows, he speaks better than I thought an orc would... "I know a simple apology won't bring back those killed by us, I only did what I believed was best for my people. Our lands are dying and we do not know why as crops and livestock cannot live or grow there anymore. Orthos offered me a way to save my people... but in the end, he led us to near extinction," he tells us.

"And what do ye want us to do about it? It's not like we can just heal the dirt itself," Ivan replies.

"I would have to agree with King Bronzebeard, not even the Aspect of Life can bring back the dead, I believe that would go for the very planet itself," Sylvaan says.

I can feel Gaia's orb pulsing so I tap it and she speaks. 'He's wrong. While they can't heal the land, we can,' she tells me.

'You mean like how I'm going to help you regrow the Moonglade Forest?' I ask her.

'Yes, but on a much smaller scale. It sounds like their land is slowly being poisoned with arcane energies, while Moonglade was bathed in it.'

'I see. Should you come out and tell them? I think the elf will get a nasty shock after what he just said about you,' I say to her.

Grom and Ivan seem to be arguing about why we should even help after all the pain and misery the orcs caused.

'That might be for the best,' she tells me and creates her astral projection.

The others all shut up and stare at her as she hovers beside me.

"Ladies and Gentlemen, may I introduce you to Mother Gaia. The Aspect of Life," I announce. I look at Sylvaan and notice he instantly bows to her. I knew the elves treated her like a goddess, but not to the point of total worship.

"My lady, I am blessed to be in your presence," Sylvaan says.

Gaia just looks at him. "You are still on my bad side, Sylvaan. I still haven't forgiven you for the cruelty you inflicted to the animals you used in your experiments, no one has the right to toy with another's life so maliciously," she tells him.

Sylvaan looks visibly hurt by that as Gaia then turns to the others . "I believe the lands of Orgrim have been poisoned with arcane energies. It is most likely that Orthos poisoned your homeland in order to make his proposal look much more favourable to you," she says to Grom.

"Then we were betrayed from the very start?" he asks with disbelief.

"I believe so, but I believe I can repair the damage with Adrian's help," she replies.

"And what can a single human do to help? We elves have more mana and understanding in nature than any human ever could," Sylvaan says in a smug like tone.

I stand up and close my eyes. I can feel Gaia's mana flow through me and my aspect form takes shape. I open my eyes to the stunned looks of everyone but Luna.

"Adrian is my avatar and he holds a near limitless supply of mana," Gaia tells him.

Sylvaan looks rather angry but says nothing.

"And what do we get in return for helpin' yer lands?" Ivan asks Grom.

"Nothing," I say. Getting odd looks from both the statement and the echo in my voice. "Only that they join our alliance, and come to our aid as we shall theirs," I tell them.

Grom stands up and holds his hand out to me. "We would be honoured to join your alliance. All I ask is you save my lands and people," he says.

I shake his hand. "Very well. Shall we go now before the land gets any worse?" I ask him.

"I would appreciate it," Grom replies.

"You can take one of our prototype airships, it would get you there quicker," Vortigan tells me.

"You already have airships built?" I ask.

"Yes but only three small ones," he replies.

"Still, it's better than walking, thank you," I tell him.

Sylvaan stands up and heads for the door. "While you all may welcome the orcs. I for one shall not allow their kind within Vaylen's borders," he tells us and leaves, but not before shooting me a nasty look.

"Always such a pleasure talkin' ta him," Ivan says.

I just shake my head. "By the way, Ivan. How are those train blueprints Luna gave you working out?" I ask as I drop my aspect form.

"Oh aye, they're a big help. We had a couple o' problems with our design that we just couldn't figure out, but with those blueprints we discovered the problem. Should be able to start building the prototype in about three months," he replies.

"Great, I take it the first track will be to link Elysium with Stonehaven?" I ask.

"Aye, but that won't be for many months or even years," he replies.

"Well then," says Vortigan. "I believe that is all. While I am, admittedly, still upset about your attacks on my City. I can see why you did so, I too have been betrayed by my own brother Orthos," Vortigan tells Grom.

"I see. In any case, If there is anything we can do for you, just ask. It's the least I can do," Grom replies.

"Just come back here once you're done so we can all discuss terms and agreements," Vortigan tells him.

We say our goodbyes and a guard leads us to where the airships are located. Just outside the Castle is a new tower with platforms coming out of it with three small sloop style airships, though the engines and such have a more dwarven style to them.

We're lead to the first ship and we board it after the Captain receives a letter from the guard.

"We really flying to Orgrim?" one of the crew's dwarfs asks.

"By order of King Vortigan it seems," the human Captain of the ship replies. "Alright, hop on board, should only take us two days if the wind is with us. Four if not," he tells us.

Wait, four days!? I groan and get on board with Luna and Grom.

Next Chapter: Chapter 61: Traditions and Honour Estimated time remaining: 8 Hours, 6 Minutes