Disclaimer: All characters, settings and pre-established lore copyright of Riot Games (and all that jazz).


Chapter 1: Touring the Yordle Academy

A sudden wind conjured itself around the yordle, encircling him as it grew with ferocity. The grainy gusts swept through his fur and scratched at his jumpsuit. As if caught in the eye of a sandstorm, the yordle found himself trapped amongst the sizable tempest and, soon enough, felt his eyelids grow heavy and his senses fade. Losing consciousness, he fell to the ground, left alone to rest.


BEEP! BEEP! BEEP! ...BEEP! BEEP! BEEP! ...BEEP! BEEP! BEEP!

As the ribbons of light emerged through the curtains, illuminating the small, littered bedroom in a light sunrise, the slumbering yordle turned in his bed, groaning in aggravation.

"Mmmm…morning already?" He said through his pillow, turning his blurry sight to the blaring alarm clock stationed on the nightstand beside the bed. It read: 8:30 AM. That detestable device, while annoying, was essential to the yordle's day-by-day routine. After smashing several buttons at once, the yordle yawned and lifted himself from his bed linen, shifting positions to let his feet dangle above the ground. Stretching and scratching, he jumped off the bed and separated the curtains. The bright light of the sun flooded the room, briefly blinding the yordle. When the flash dissipated, it left behind a panoramic view of a city-state that never seemed to rest, as if the city itself was preoccupied with its own development; Piltover.

This was a view the yordle thought he'd never get used to; the towering buildings, the passing aircrafts and the rising steam of factories busy with workers. Although this was a typical scene to witness, today was a special day for not only him but for the academy he worked for.

"Welp, today's the day!" Ziggs said to himself. "The yordles of Bandle are finally coming to tour the Yordle Academy! I wonder who'll show up." Ziggs thought to himself. Maybe Tristana would be curious enough to show maybe? Corki would seem interested. Maybe even Teemo as well. Ziggs sighed to himself as the last possible yordle came to thought.

"…nah, he'd never show up. Not in a million years. …Ah well! Time's a wastin'!" Ziggs cheered, turning on his heel and walking out of his room, beginning his morning routine. Consisting of bathing, breakfast and getting dressed, Ziggs looked in the mirror for the final time, adjusting his helmet/goggles headpiece and putting on his single earring on his left ear. Ziggs smiled at himself in the mirror.

"Lookin' good, handsome!" Grabbing a satchel off the floor with a prototype bomb inside, Ziggs hoisted it over his shoulder and proceeded to make his way out of his small apartment. Ziggs knew it wasn't much, however, it was all he could afford for the few months he'd been staying in Piltover. He would move into a larger living space, but for whom? Only himself? It was a pointless idea Ziggs tossed around in his head every so often on his way to the Yordle Academy. He yawned once more as he walked down the sidewalks of the bustling city-state.

"I wouldn't have to wake up so early if I just had my own vehicle!" Ziggs complained to himself. He watched as countless cars and other makeshift automobiles passed by him. "Lucky bastards." It was an issue that became less of a pain and more of a ritual for the yordle as he adjusted his sleep schedule to make time for the walk. But no matter where he was in his walk, he could always see the top of the towering building he knew and loved so much; The Yordle Academy of Science and Progress. The building served as both a landmark for Ziggs to follow as well as a constant reminder of his success in achieving his dream.

Within the half hour, Ziggs found himself climbing the long steps of the Academy, approaching the large, double doors that sealed the science away. Ziggs took a deep breath, knowing that the unordinary day would bring a great number of surprises to his otherwise stagnant schedule. Ziggs pushed a door open and let himself in, the smell of chemicals and hard labor filling his nostrils.

The Academy was not shy about its work and made no effort in hiding its advances as the tall ceilings gave vision several stories high. Ziggs looked up as he made his way through the busy academy. Networks of bridges and hallways created an atmosphere as if every scientist worked in the same room together. While engineers followed each other with clipboards and charts, conversing in what seemed like foreign languages, others took speedy strides past each other to attend to other matters. Ziggs was one of them and he would have wished for nothing more.

At the Attendance Office, Ziggs took out a plastic card from his pocket, swiping it through a machine mounted on a wall. The machine's screen read:

CHECK-IN SUCCESSFUL. CHECK-IN TIME: 9:54 AM. WELCOME, ZIGGS.

Placing his card back in his pocket, Ziggs made his way out of the office and to a set of elevators. His next destination was his favorite. Not his apartment, not his own, personal office, but his sanctuary. It was his refuge away from his stressors; his lab. Located on the 3rd floor, Ziggs pushed the "Up" arrow button and waited for the familiar "ding!" of the elevator.

"Aha! There you are, Ziggs!" exclaimed a voice very familiar to Ziggs. As he turned around, two yordles approached him. "I was beginning to worry myself with your lack of urgency."

Heimerdinger and his assistant, Gustaav. The famed yordle himself, the Revered Inventor, was half responsible for the formation of the establishment and nearly the entire reason Ziggs was able to find his place here. His assistant, however, was beginning to find his own purpose at the Academy and serves as a multi-purpose subordinate to Heimerdinger. Always excited to do his part to help, Gustaav was a young, male yordle taking his baby steps into research by gluing himself to Heimerdinger's hip and hugging a clipboard.

"Good morning, Dean of Demolitions." Gustaav greeted Ziggs with a quick bow, knowing he was in the presence of higher powers.

"Ah! Heimy! Gustaav! Please, just call me Ziggs. And no need to worry about me, Heimy, I know what today is. And believe me, I've got everything under control!" Ziggs stated proudly, putting his thumb to his chest.

"I would expect nothing less from the Dean of Demolitions. You are the main attraction to the opening ceremony and we cannot have aspiring scientists sit in boredom when there is opportunity airborne!" Heimerdinger stressed, raising his arms up.

"Trust me, Heimy, the crowd's gonna be so blown away they'll find themselves all the way back in Bandle! Haha!" Ziggs joked.

"Your impressive performance will serve as a symbol of what you've learned at the Academy including your hard work these past months. Imagine it as a way of displaying your potential as the Dean of Demolitions! Hold your title with pride!"

"I do! I do! That's why I'm gonna drop this baby off at the lab and then head to the Event Room to make sure everything is set up accordingly!" Ziggs said, patting his satchel.

"Excellent. Remember, the touring group is set to appear here at noon. Will you be present during the opening ceremony?"

"No can do, Heimy! After that, I'm gotta make sure my lab is in tip-top shape for when the group comes by! Don't want them to think I'm a messy guy all the time, y'know?" Ziggs chuckled.

"As you wish. Your explosives demonstration will be presence enough, I suppose. Let us be off, Gustaav, we must check in with the other departments' progress." Heimerdinger said, turning to his side and walking away.

"Yes, sir! Good luck with your show, Dean of-…I mean, Mr. Ziggs!" Gustaav stammered, giving him another bow and following Heimerdinger in suit. Ziggs watched as the two turned a corner.

"He's getting there." Ziggs said to himself. Hearing the "ding!" behind him, Ziggs turned around to see the elevator doors slide open, allowing the passengers to exit the elevator before boarding himself. With the press of a button, the doors were sealed as he was carried swiftly to the third floor. Walking down the halls, Ziggs passed by many offices and other labs devoted to different subjects of research whether it was animal testing, shock therapy or light rod enhancements. Turning several corners and crossing over a bridge, Ziggs soon found himself at the entrance to his lab, his home away from home.

Sliding the door open, Ziggs strode into his workplace. Even when he was gone, the lab seemed busy on its own. Sparks from frayed wires, the bubbling of volatile liquids in Erlenmeyer flasks, the scattered pieces of fuses and metal around the floor and the stray sheets of paper covering the surfaces of the many desks stationed around the room invited the yordle in. An island workbench stood in the center of the lab with several rolled out schematics of impressive hexplosives, or at least they would be had they been completed.

Ziggs dropped the satchel on the island table, taking out the prototype bomb and examining it.

"You're gonna be my next and greatest invention. Runeterra'll never see you comin'! I might even be able to stop a war or two with you, hehe." Ziggs laughed to himself as the half-constructed bomb sat on the table awaiting development.

"No time for you yet! Gotta get myself to the Event Room! Stat!"

Taking one last survey of his lab, Ziggs exited through the same door and took the elevators to the second floor, approaching a wall of several double doors that all lead to the same room, the Event Room. The room itself was one of the largest in the Academy with a ceiling that nearly reached the third floor. As Ziggs walked in, he could hear the echoes of yordles and humans alike, practicing their speeches at the podium or chatting idly between the innumerable rows of seats. But Ziggs's business was not with this room. No, it was with what he could detonate in this room.

Weeks prior, Ziggs was assigned the important task of creating and arranging an indoor fireworks display along with the use of any other flashy, non-volatile explosives he would deem appropriate. Accepting it without a second thought, Ziggs worked tirelessly to create something that would leave every yordle's jaw open throughout the ceremony. Now was his time to shine and there was no way he'd let another accident ruin his chances for glory.

Ziggs began his rounds along the perimeter of the Event Room, stabilizing and examining the small turrets set up that would release the initial fireworks.

"Uh huh. Mmhmm. Rockets loaded in like so…and there! Perfect." Ziggs got behind each small turret, angling the barrels in directions that would cause the fireworks to explode overhead. One by one Ziggs stepped from one turret to the next, performing maintenance where needed and realigning rockets. The last thing he needed to detonate was an innocent yordle's head, as amusing as that would be to him. Once the perimeter of the floor was covered, Ziggs moved to the control stations upstairs that overlooked the room's lighting and sound functions. Mounted along the railings were several more turrets facing downward as if ready to snipe the next yordle to walk by. Can't have that.

"How's about facing…that-a-way? Hmm…I don't want them to hit the ceiling and be responsible for another hole in the Academy's walls! If I adjust it like this, however…there! A little of 'column A' and a little of 'column B'!" Ziggs spoke to himself, anxious to see the fruits of his labor. After walking around the upstairs, Ziggs descended back to the Event Room floor to take one final assessment. Rubbing his hands together, Ziggs looked as if he was a villain planning to destroy the Academy rather than impress its visitors.

"Oooooh I can't wait to see the look on their faces when they're surrounded in colorful hexplosives! Hehehe." Ziggs looked at the time from a nearby mounted, digital clock. It read: 11:55 AM "Oh! And just in time! The touring group'll be in this room any minute!"

Just as Ziggs was about to run through a set of double doors to get back to his lab, a brighter idea struck him.

"Hmmm. Maybe I'll watch the group come in from the control room. Might as well see if I can find any familiar faces amongst the crowd."

Ziggs entered the Event Room once more and climbed the steps to the east control room, peering down from the window. Soon enough, one by one the election board members took their seats at the stage, including Heimerdinger himself. Following them, led by other staff members, was the touring group itself; a mass of different colored skin and fur that moved in unison. The group invaded the room, occupying row after row of seats facing the podium. Ziggs's eyes darted around the crowd, hastily scanning the sea of weaving heads until everyone had found their seats. Ziggs sighed in disappointment.

"Not a single yordle I know…you gotta be kidding me!" Ziggs ran his sight up and down each row desperate for a familiar face. "C'mon, c'mon, c'moooon…" It seemed hopeless to look for anyone anymore. Had his friends forgotten about him? Or were they not interested in his practice? Were they jealous of him? Ziggs's brainstorm of possibilities was put to an abrupt end, however, when he looked upon one yordle in specific. He rubbed his goggles as if they were his own eyes to see if it was just a mistake. Even after the stray dust was wiped from his vision the yordle was still present. Row eight, three seats in from the center. It was him. It was unbelievably, undeniably him.

"Rumble…" Ziggs whispered to himself. Running out of the control room, Ziggs put his hands on the railing, leaning over to get a better look. "It's him. It's him! I'd recognize those trapezoidal ears any day! I can't believe he actually showed up…he's actually in Piltover! All on his own!"

Ziggs locked his sights on Rumble, watching his every move. Rumble sat between a pinkish yordle girl and a green, furry yordle boy with round glasses. Not looking the happiest to be in the middle of what he felt was enemy territory, he sat with his head rested in his hand and his elbow on an armrest. Listening to his rival speak in his own domain wasn't on Rumble's top thirteen activities to take part in, however, his intentions were elsewhere.

Ziggs stepped back into the control room and searched around for a specific device.

"Let's see…aha! There you are. Hehe…now I've got plenty more reasons to really "wow" the crowd!" Ziggs held the simplistic device in his hand and, with the press of a button, switch the fireworks display from "Auto" to "Manual" mode. Ziggs turned his attention to the control board underneath the window; a not-so-simplistic device. Nothing the yordle couldn't figure out on his own, however. Reading each switch's abbreviated function, Ziggs found the "ER SOUND" switch and, with enough curiosity, flipped it up. The sound of Heimerdinger's voice followed, deriving from a speaker in the corner of the room. Ziggs smiled at his progress.

"Now to just wait for my cue." Ziggs listened carefully at Heimerdinger's words. After a certain sentence, the hexplosives show would have started automatically. Ziggs, however, had something else in mind. He looked up at the speaker.

"…humbly invite you to this year's Yordle Academy of Science and Progress Touring Event!" Heimerdinger announced. A loud applause followed and faded. "I would like to thank all of the staff members who have made this endeavor possible and extend my gratitude to those of you here today! On behalf…" Heimerdinger continued. Ziggs tapped his foot in impatience aware of how Heimerdinger can go off on tangents. All he needed was that one sentence and the room would be his. "…a special show for you all to commemorate this wondrous day! I welcome you all to the Yordle Academy of Science and Progress!

"Bingo." Ziggs slides the lighting controls down with his fingers, watching the room slowly dim until it was left in complete darkness. The sudden change elicited gasps and shrieks of surprise from the crowd. Unaware of these changes, Heimerdinger, along with the rest of the scientists on stage, looked up in confusion and concern. Could the event be going awry already?

With the lights turned down and the crowd in a haze, Ziggs flipped up the "TALK-BACK" switch and brought his mouth the microphone.

"Are you ready…" He began. Ziggs's voice boomed from all directions, leaving the crowd in further anxiety. "…for a hexplosive experience!?"

Rumble head shot up. "That voice!" he exclaimed to himself.

With that said, Ziggs took the small device in his hands and mashed on the greenest button he could find. All at once, the ground floor turrets launched their rockets into the air above the crowd. Explosions of green, blue, red and purple lit up room, making up for the lack of lighting. Sparklers outlined the walkway between the blocks of seats, making the yordles both flinch in surprise and laugh in delight. Then the upper level turrets sent out their share of fireworks into the room. The rockets spiraled above the crowd before ascending into the air and leaving their designated colors behind in spherical blazes. Everyone, including those on the stage, darted their eyes around the room unsure of whether to look at the bright green explosions to the left or the glaring flashes of pink to the right.

Ziggs took this opportunity to make his final move. Turning off the microphone and exiting the control room, Ziggs rushed down the row of mounted turrets fulfilling their purposes and quickly approached the mother of all firecrackers, the Finale as he called it; a single rocket much larger than Ziggs himself. This rocket would be the last to launch, however, it served an even greater purpose now. Ziggs stepped onto the turret and hoisted himself onto the loaded rocket, using his arms and legs to grip it tightly. Ziggs smiled in anticipation.

"Let's ride, baby! YEEEHAAAA!"

As the fuse reached its end, the Finale was launched into the crowd. Screams and hollers are heard as the rocket nearly nosedives into the seated yordles. Veering the side in the nick of time, Ziggs's audible laughter spun around the audience as he rode upon the Finale. Heimerdinger leaned over the podium in an attempt to keep up with the rocket making rounds throughout the room.

"Is that…it can't possibly be! Actually, it's quite likely…" Heimerdinger said to himself away from the podium microphone. He was told by Ziggs that he would not be present during the opening ceremony. Yet, here he was taking one of his own hexplosives for a trip. This behavior was not unlike the yordle's.

After one final round, the rocket led itself down the walkway between the blocks of seating and ascended into the air. Ziggs waited for the precise moment before releasing his grip and jumping off the shaft of hexplosive, leaping away from the massive burst of colors and glitters that spelled out the word "WELCOME!" The yordles of Bandle City stared in awe as Ziggs landed on his feet and stood upright in front of the podium, raising his arms in the air to take one final pose.

The crowd roared in contentment, prompting nearly everyone in the room to stand up and give a heavy applause coupled with very audible cheering. Ziggs kept his pose, basking in the glory he yearned for. He lowered his arms and began to bow several times at the cheering audience. The praise seemed never-ending as the room's lighting returned.

"Thank you! Thank you! Thank you very much!" Ziggs shouted back at the crowd. Heimerdinger smirked, impressed by Ziggs's surprise performance. It served as a reassuring note that inviting him to the Academy was another one of his genius ideas. He tapped on the microphone and cleared his throat as the cheers began to subside.

"And might I introduce our very own Dean of Demolitions! Many of you may know him as the one and only Ziggs!" Heimerdinger announced. The roaring arose again but this time from a seated audience. Ziggs knew the floor was his and took advantage of this opportunity.

"I'm very excited to see my home so close to work! I hope you all enjoyed my little show because I know I sure did! Haha!" Ziggs laughed aloud. "Now that you're all riled up, please enjoy the rest of the opening ceremony! I'll be up in my lab on the third floor making preparations for your arrival! See you then my yordle brethren!"

Ziggs waved to the crowd as he strode down the walkway, keeping the cheers coming and even receiving a few high-fives. Rumble watched Ziggs as he made his way past his row. Ziggs turned his attention to Rumble as he walked by, holding three fingers up and then pointing upward. Rumble looked at him half confused but nodded. Ziggs knew what he wanted and Rumble was more than willing to break a few rules to get to it.

Rumble waited a formidable amount of time after Ziggs's exit as to not raise suspicion. Listening to various scientists taking turns at the podium sharing their gratitude soon became too much for the blue yordle as he arose from his seat. As subtly as possible, Rumble sidestepped his way out of the row and casually walked to the double doors in the back of the room. Easy enough, right?

"Excuse me." A human staff member stopped Rumble in his tracks. "Where might you be heading off to? You'll miss your group assignment."

Rumble had no time for this or whatever the "group assignment" was all about. Nothing a little lie couldn't solve. He looked up at the human.

"I really have to use the restroom! After that performance I think I'm going to piss myself!" Rumble gave the human a look of worry and urgency, starting to jump up and down. The staff member scrunched his face.

"U-uh…I see. Make a right, down the hall all the way at the end…"

"Thanks!" Rumble quickly walked out of Event Room in search of anything but a restroom; steps, escalators, ropes, lifts, anything to get him to the third floor. Rumble made hasty strides though the Academy, cocking his head in all directions until he finally came across a pair of elevators. Rumble ran up to the wall between them, repeatedly pressing the "Up" button until a "Ding!" was heard from the left side. Running in, Rumble pressed the "3" button and paced in impatience, having the elevator to himself. Another "Ding!" is heard before Rumble rushed through the half open doors and past a surprised group of people waiting for the elevator's arrival. Looking left and right, Rumble walked past what seemed like an endless amount of labs and offices, none of which had Ziggs's name on them. He searched for anything with a hazard sign pasted on it imagining what Ziggs's lab would look like. After crossing a bridge that reminded Rumble of his fear of heights, he made an abrupt stop in front of an open laboratory, looking through the doorway. Looking inside, Rumble could see a familiar figure at the other end of the room, working diligently at a table of papers. Ziggs.

Rumble smiled, feeling his breath become heavy from the rush. He took a moment to watch Ziggs in his own environment. Having always wondered what he did in Piltover, this was Rumble's chance to address unanswered questions. He gave a light knock along the metal doorway.

"Who's that? I'm a little busy here so no time for chit-chat!" Ziggs yelled back without turning around. Oh, this was going to be good.

"AHEM! This is your superior, Heimerdinger, coming to inform you that I'm the biggest tool in Piltover! Hooray for science!" Rumble yelled back, attempting to imitate Heimerdinger's voice with exaggeration. Ziggs stopped his tasks immediately as his head and ears suddenly sprung up.

"Rumble…" Ziggs spun around in place as a smile stretched across his face. "…Rumble!"

"Ziggs!" Rumble called back.

Ziggs dropped his papers and ran to the blue yordle, spreading his arms out. Rumble took a few steps forward, bracing himself for the impact. Ziggs wrapped his arms around Rumble, embracing him tightly as Rumble returned the gesture. The two held each other as if afraid to let one another go.

"I can't believe it! You're here! In Piltover! How!?" Ziggs barraged him with questions as he rested his chin on his shoulder.

"When I heard about the whole "Bandle going to Piltover" thing going on I had to go. It was the perfect excuse to come and visit you!"

"But you hate Piltover! You're doing this just for me?" Ziggs released Rumble and took a step back, creating space between the two.

"Yea, yea I know. I do hate the Academy and, to be honest, I was pretty nervous about coming here in the first place. But Tristana was able to convince me to board the ship. And, well, here I am!"

"Heheh, good 'ol Tristana. You two finally hitting it off yet?" Ziggs crossed his arms and smirked.

"Hitting it off? W-well, not exactly. I swear, that Teemo really rubs me the wrong way."

"Teemo?"

"Yeah, he's always going on "missions" with her just to spend time with her. And she always gets flustered when I ask about him and her! He's probably gotten much farther with her than I ever will." Rumble looked down in disappointment.

"Hey now, don't count yourself out yet! You could always just step on the guy with Tristy and then have Tristana all to yourself!" Rumble laughed at the thought.

"Pfftt, yeah right! If it was that easy I would have just made it look like an accident a while ago!"

"Haha! True, true. But Rumble, there's gotta be another reason for you to be here! I mean, you wouldn't travel from one end of Runeterra to the other just to see me, would ya?" Rumble gave him a small smile.

"Ziggs…we're best friends, you know that. I'd do more if I could! Besides, you've been gone for months without writing back. I was beginning to worry about what they were doing to you here. You didn't even come to Bandle to celebrate your induction to the League." Ziggs's ears drooped down.

"Ah, yea, sorry 'bout that. I just…uh…" Ziggs scratched the back of his neck, not wanting to explain why he was afraid to write to or see his own friend.

"Hey, don't sweat it, okay? All that matters is that I finally got to see you." Rumble said, putting his hand on Ziggs's shoulder.

"Yeah…of course!"

The two stood in an awkward silence, looking in any direction that wasn't at each other. This wasn't something they were used to. Back at Bandle City, there was always a topic of choice or something to joke around about. Nothing was ever awkward. Was it the location? The months without communication? Rumble wouldn't have it.

"So…" Rumble began. "What're you waiting for?"

"Hm? What're you talkin' about?" Ziggs gave Rumble a confused expression.

"This is a 'touring event', right? Don't I get a tour?"

"Oh…Oh! Right! Well then you're shit outta luck!" Ziggs said proudly, putting his hands on his hips.

"Is that what you're going to tell the rest of the group when they come by?"

"By the time they're here, I'll be ready for 'em! But I can't give a tour of my lab when it looks like…this!"

Rumble looked around the lab; discarded papers, spilled chemicals, fuses and metal pieces seasoning the lab's floor. He sighed and shook his head.

"Ziggs, your workspace is always this messy, though. Might as well just show them who you really are."

"But I want them to see me as the tidy, genius and handsome yordle I am! Not like this!"

"So you're going to lie to all of Bandle?"

"What's that supposed to mean!?" Ziggs barked back. Rumble had a way of knowing how to push his friend's buttons. It was all too easy at this point. He turned away from Ziggs and shrugged, smirking.

"Oh, nothing. While you're at it you might as well tell them that your helmet is surgically attached to your head, you're actually a sane, level-headed yordle and that you've actually gotten laid before!" Rumble laughed to himself as Ziggs put him in a headlock from behind, forcefully rubbing his knuckles into Rumble's mohawk.

"You got jokes now, huh?" Ziggs said through his teeth. His short fuse personality was something of a trademark to him apart from his hexplosives. Bringing this side of Ziggs out was Rumble's own way of making up for years of Ziggs teasing him as they grew up together.

"Alright! Alright! I'm sorry!" Rumble said, pulling himself out of Ziggs's grip and fixing his hair. "How's this sound? I'll help you spruce up the place before the group comes by and then we'll catch up later. Sound good?"

"You'll help me? Great!" Ziggs exclaimed reaching behind him. Grabbing a broom and dustpan, he shoved the cleaning supplies into Rumble's hands and pointed to the other side of the room. "You can start over there!" Ziggs smiled and began to sort out papers and roll up schematics.

"You don't waste any time, do you?" Rumble asked, beginning to sweep the floors as instructed.

"When you're on borrowed time you can't waste any of it!"

Ziggs rushed around the room, dusting surfaces and disposing of stray pencils. As Rumble gathered dirt and scrap parts with the broom, a bin filled with small, red, spherical objects caught his eye on the ground. The objects were smaller than golf balls but larger than grapes.

"Hey, what're these?" Rumble asked, bending down to get a closer look. Ziggs turned to him.

"Oh, those? Just some cherry bombs I make in my spare time. They're harmless, I swear! They'll tickle you on impact at most." Ziggs took a handful from the bin. "Catch!"

Tossing them at Rumble, the blue yordle's first reaction was to cross his arms in front of him, guarding his face. Yet, the only sensations he felt were the unimpressive stings of small detonations along his forearms.

"That's it? No big explosions?" Rumble asked, inspecting his forearms.

"If I wanted to kill ya I would have just used a bigger bomb! But these are for fun! Really expendable. That's why there's so many of 'em! Here, try some out yours-…ah! Ach! Hey!" Before Ziggs could finish, Rumble began flinging single cherry bombs at Ziggs's head, already having a stash in his other hand.

"Hey, you're right. These are fun!" Rumble laughed, keeping up his attack.

"Oh, so it's a war you want, eh?" Ziggs smirked at Rumble's contest. Swiftly grabbing another handful, Ziggs tumbled for cover at a nearby chair while Rumble took base behind the island workbench in the center of the lab.

"You won't win, scoundrel!" Rumble yelled from behind the workbench, launching a few cherry bombs over.

"Wanna bet?" Ziggs responded with his own aerial raid of bombs.

The two took turns peeking from their bases and launching their artillery at one another, enjoying their time together. It was just like back in the days of Ziggs living in Bandle; never a dull day and nothing Ziggs couldn't make a game out of. This was the Ziggs Rumble remembered and he was glad that his personality was preserved despite his new residence in Piltover. As their ammunition dwindled, Rumble wished that these moments wouldn't end, that he would be forever playing with Ziggs just as he did in his childhood. Wishes, however, are not always granted.

"AHEM!" a voice chimed in from the doorway.

"Wow, Rumble! You're getting pretty good at your Heimy impression! Heheh!" Ziggs giggled.

"Uuhh..that wasn't me, Ziggs…" Rumble responded in concern. The two yordles stood up and faced the doorway, their expressions quickly changing. Heimerdinger.

"I suspected as much. Your early departure from the Event Room made it all too simple…Rumble…" Heimerdinger said his rival's name with that of pure malice. Rumble dropped his remaining cherry bombs and walked towards him.

"Heimerdinger…" Rumble said his name through his teeth and with an equal amount of detestation. Soon, the two stood eye-to-eye, staring one another down and circling each other as if two fighters in a ring. All at once, Ziggs could feel the tension in the room rise to unnerving levels. Whatever was going to come out of this wasn't going to be good knowing their rivalry over the years.

"And to what do I owe this most unpleasant visit, hm? Finally come to your senses regarding your inferior technology?" Heimerdinger asked in distain.

"As if. I just decided to stop by and count how many footprints I could find on your afro, y'know, after being stepped on by every higher-up in Piltover."

"Is that jealousy I detect? Jealous that I will forever be ahead of you in any measureable parameter?"

"You're right. I guess you will always have a mutated head twice the size of mine! You're gonna end up with back problems when you're older."

"The only problem I'm going to have is your continued presence here. The mere fact that you have entered the Academy is enough to disgust any scientist! And you have the mettles to go about sneaking around this establishment knowing you are not welcome?"

"Your goons weren't exactly that hard to get through and the security in here might as well be nonexistent! I'd question your own establishment before questioning me!"

"That's it!" Heimerdinger stomped on one foot in frustration. "I'm bringing you back to the touring group myself! If I catch you in areas you're not assigned to be in then I will gladly have you forcefully escorted out of the Academy and shipped back to Bandle! Understand?"

"What're you gonna do? Bop me with that abomination you call a head?"

"You little…"

"Actually, Rumble…" Ziggs interrupted. This needed to end before fists started flying. "As much fun as it is to have you here, it's sort of the rules. You should be with the touring group today."

Rumble looked at Ziggs in defeat, not expecting to be cornered by his rival as well as his own friend.

"But…Ziggs…"

"I'm sorry, Rumble. It's not my rules." Ziggs said in disappointment, rubbing his opposite arm. Rumble looked back and forth between the two other yordles before admitting defeat to Ziggs's saddened expression. It wouldn't be fair for him to get Ziggs in trouble knowing how content he was at the Academy. Rumble sighed.

"Fine. Whatever." Rumble pouted out of the lab, leaving Heimerdinger and Ziggs to themselves.

"And you." Heimerdinger began. Ziggs's ears drooped, preparing himself for the inevitable scolding. "You should know better than to knowingly break the rules of this establishment. If you care about your position and title here then I suggest you think more thoroughly about your actions before committing to them! Do you comprehend, Ziggs?"

"Yes Heimy…" Ziggs knew there was no persuading him. His rivalry with Rumble was too bitter to remedy and he was not in the position to challenge Heimerdinger's words. He owed too much to the veteran inventor and kept his thoughts in the back of his head.

"Gee! I sure feel lost out here! If only someone could guide me before I wonder off again!" Rumble shouted in sarcasm from outside the lab. Heimerdinger growled and stomped out of the lab, turning and walking past Rumble.

"I swear your personality better suits a child!"

"I think your head's having one right now! We need an ambulance! Stat!"

Heimerdinger balled his hands into fists, withholding his anger to the best of his abilities. "Follow me." He growled out, gesturing Rumble to stay behind him.

Ziggs sighed once more to himself before resuming his preparations. "That was difficult. But I can't let this get to me. We'll find a way to see each other…right?" Ziggs spoke to himself, less promoted to continue his tasks.

Outside, Rumble was imitating Heimerdinger's usual walk cycle he witnessed on the Fields of Justice, bringing his head back and swaying from one side to the other. Heimerdinger, as if he had eyes behind his head, stopped abruptly to look at him. Rumble put his hands behind his back, acting innocent. Glaring for a moment, Heimerdinger continued walking again.

"I must ask you, Rumble. Why did you decide to accompany the other yordles on this trip? It is most unlike you to willingly step into Piltover let alone the Academy itself."

"I'm just here to see Ziggs. That's all." Rumble replied sternly. Heimerdinger cocked an eyebrow.

"Just Ziggs? No other underlying reasons? Hidden intentions?"

"Ziggs means a lot to me. He's been my best friend since we were toddlers. And if it means putting up with you to see him, I'll gladly take it. Not that you'd know much about real friends."

"…" Heimerdinger fell silent for the duration of the walk. Had Rumble struck a nerve? Not that he should care of his rival's feelings. Though, it didn't stop it from coming as a surprise. Usually Heimerdinger was one for rebuttals and witty comebacks. Rumble had to admit, the rest of the walk was more nerve-wracking than he found confortable. Soon, a group of curious yordles could be seen crowding around the doorway of another laboratory.

"You will follow Group A around the designated areas and nothing else. They are currently witnessing the production of light rods. Maybe you'll learn a thing or two."

"Great. I can't wait until we visit the exit." Rumble grumbled, finding a place to stand in the group where he could get a view of the presentation. He would see Ziggs again soon enough. That is, at least he hoped he would.

Presentation after presentation, Rumble endured. Moving along with his group and pretending to be interested in the happenings around the Academy began to wear him down. The Astrology, Neuroscience, Biomedical Engineering, Hextech Fun Facts and even the "Build-Your-Own Mercury Cannon-Hammer" stations became nothing more than mere bumps in the road for Rumble.

Ziggs's presentation was the only spark of excitement Rumble could get out of the group. Ziggs brought his group around the laboratory, which, to Rumble's surprise, looked much cleaner and even shinier than when he was kicked out. The cherry bombs were nowhere to be found. Showing off his previous models of hexplosives and even demonstrating the testing procedures to determine to volatility of a bomb kept the group on their toes. For laughs, Ziggs would even explain his day-to-day schedule whilst juggling a few bombs. It pleased Rumble to know Ziggs was happy doing what he loved. He achieved his dream and nothing would have made Rumble more proud. And yet, another part of Rumble's heart ached. It seemed obvious why but simultaneously he couldn't pin down what it was. Was he happy for his friend's achievement? Or was he disappointed in his position?

At last the time came for the groups to reassemble and exit the academy after the closing ceremony. This was it. This was Rumble's last chance. Leaving the Academy now would mean his time with Ziggs was over. There was so much more he needed to tell him, so much unfinished business. No, Rumble wouldn't let Heimerdinger of all people get in the way of him and his best friend, not by a long shot.

"C'mon, Rumble. Be crafty. Or something! Think….think…" Rumble thought to himself. All at once, Rumble suddenly stopped walking with the group and dropped his bag of collected memorabilia from the Academy. Other yordles stopped to help but Rumble shooed them away.

"No, no! I'm fine, I got it myself! You guys go on ahead." Rumble insisted. The yordles shrugged and continued with the rest of the group as they were en route for the main entrance. Rumble slowly gathered his belongings together until the group was a fair distance away from him. Standing back up and turning around, Rumble made a run for the elevators. Rumble casually played off his presence as he boarded the nearest elevator back to the third floor. Slightly familiar with the Academy's layout, it didn't take him much time to locate Ziggs's lab again. Best of all, the door was kept unlocked. Rumble peeked inside, looking left and right. There was no sign of Ziggs. Letting himself in, Rumble remembered the explanation given about the closing ceremony; it consisted of nearly every department in the Academy waving "goodbye" to the touring group as they would leave for the shuttle to take them back to the wharf. That included Ziggs.

Rumble shut the door behind him and decided to let curiosity get the best of him. Trespassing in Ziggs's personal workspace was something Rumble had gotten used to over the years and he felt nothing would be more appropriate than to rummage through all of his friend's paraphernalia. Looking up and down the shelves Rumble found different types of bombs Ziggs created, scrapped or was in the process of developing as well as various bins of scrap parts, flash powder, fuses and other miscellaneous tools. A spare helmet/goggles headpiece identical to Ziggs's was kept in a cabinet for emergencies. Rumble couldn't help but put one on his own head and smile in a small, mounted mirror, trying to imitate Ziggs's laugh.

"Man, how can he wear these all the time?" Rumble asked himself. Suddenly, his ear twitched at the sound of a familiar yordle behind the door. Ziggs was coming and Rumble had to think fast. Would he stand around and greet Ziggs again? What if someone was with him? What if he's with Heimerdinger? Rumble's time was running short. He had to make a decision and fast. Swiftly removing Ziggs's helmet and placing it on a nearby desk, Rumble looked towards the tall locker attached to the wall adjacent to the door. Rumble parted the metal doors, jumped in and closed the doors behind him. The locker was much taller than himself, however, it was just deep enough to fit Rumble comfortably. It was dark and cold with unknown objects poking his sides and slivers of light running across his face. Soon enough, the door opened.

"Hey, thanks! You too!" Ziggs shouted and waved to someone as he walked in and closed the door behind him, locking it and sighing. Rumble watched as Ziggs's previous demeanor became that of a depressed yordle. "Well, that was fun. I suppose."

Rumble trailed what he could see of Ziggs with his eyes, looking through the small vents in the locker door. His breaths became very audible to him as he attempted to breathe slower.

"They're all gone…including Rumble." Ziggs talked to himself as he sat down at a table, his back turned away from the locker. "Was it right for me to just get rid of him like that? I mean, he was breaking the rules, but that's just in our nature! He really enjoyed the shows I put on and our little reunion wasn't half bad. But…I didn't even get to say goodbye to him at the closing ceremony. I really wish he could have stayed for longer. Maybe he shouldn't have come at all. Traveling all this way from Bandle and arguing with Heimy couldn't have just been to see me!"

Rumble listened to him through the locker, helpless and trapped. Wanting to jump out and make Ziggs laugh again, Rumble restrained himself, unknowing of what ramifications may follow. Ziggs slid open a drawer next to him and pulled something unrecognizable to Rumble out. Ziggs sighed once more, holding the object up.

"I really miss the good 'ol days. I could work and play with Rumble all day and no one could tell us otherwise! But those days are over now…" Ziggs froze in place for a few moments before placing the objects back in the drawer and closing it. "I really gotta get my mind off of these things! I won't let them get in the way again! Nu-uh! No way! No how! Back to work, me!"

Rubbing his face and stretching, Ziggs jumped off the chair and looked around the room.

"Now where did I put that prototype bomb I brought back with me? Hmmm…huh? Hey, what's this?" Ziggs asked himself, finding a plastic bag with the Academy's logo on it. Rumble swallowed and began to sweat.

"Shit! Shit! Shit! I forgot about my bag!" Rumble yelled to himself in his head. Ziggs scratched his chin as he looked into the bag.

"Hmph, I don't remember this being here when I left. Maybe one of the tourists left their stuff here. Ah well, finders, keepers!" Ziggs set the bag aside and began to survey the lab. "Ah! Probably on the shelves! Hmm…nope. Workbench cabinets? …nada. C'mon, think!" Ziggs walked from one spot to another in search of his prototype bomb. The scatterbrained yordle soon came to a realization. "Aha! I know where I put it."

Ziggs began to make a beeline for the locker. Sweating profusely, Rumble was out of options. Reaching around his surroundings, he grasped something round and thought of the only thing that came to mind. As Ziggs came close enough to locker, Rumble outstretched his hand between the locker doors, displaying the random bomb he grabbed to Ziggs.

"Ah, there you are!" Ziggs exclaimed, smiling and taking the bomb from Rumble's hand and turning around. Closing the doors again, Rumble began to breathe heavier. Did it really work?

"Thanks, locker! Now-…" Ziggs froze, slowly turning his head to face the locker again. "…"

Placing the bomb on the ground, Ziggs cautiously approached the locker, not entirely sure of what lurked inside.

"I'm screwed!" Rumble gave himself one last thought before a rush of bravery promoted Ziggs to grasp the locker handles and part the doors, revealing Rumble's presence. Ziggs gazed in disbelief.

"…"

"Ah…haha…um…hi?" Rumble innocently waved back at him.

"AAAHHH!" Ziggs screamed before placing Rumble back in darkness, slamming the locker doors shut and putting his back against them, breathing rapidly.

The touring group was gone. The shuttle was gone. Rumble was still here.

This wasn't good. That wasn't good in the least bit.