NOTE, IMPORTANT:

Hello ladies and gentlemen!

There is always this problem that I want to read about a specific character or pairing but there is not nearly enough of the stories. So I came up with an idea: why won't I write about what people want to read?

I've had this idea roaming my mind for a while now and I want to give it a go.

Namely: I'll write anything proposed to me in reviews. Or sent via private message.

There have to be some rules stated, right? Right. So:

1. I will write any pairing you come up in Dota2 universe. Just don't make me write bestiality...just no. Any pairing I will feel uncomfortable writing erotically about would get switched to platonic.

2. Most of what happens will be shown from a point of view of the character mentioned in the story below. I will not state her "real" name or too many details of appearance just so the reader can relate themselves with the story, I know it's fun right :d

2a. That means pairings of the character (reader) and a hero are also available. Make me proud, perverts!

3. Most of it will be based on the Dota2 lore and I'll try to make the character mentioned below (reader) as neutral as possible. Don't throw characters from different sources in.

4. Don't expect me to write 10 page long paper, most of it will be rather short stories.

Last of all: I don't own Dota2 or anything connected with it. If you want to use what I wrote just ask nicely, that does belong to me.

Enjoy!

Day like any other...classes were hard and mostly boring, breaks were not long enough. All I wanted to do was to relax a bit, play a few games of Dota and just enjoy the evening before I would have to approach next day.

In the dim light my room seemed like a dark hole I would love to crawl into. Only the brightness of the monitor stood out. And there I sat, sprawled comfortably in my pyjamas' pants and shirt.

Through headphones I was listening to some of the people I decided to play games with today bicker and fool around. Queuing in this game sometimes took ages but it was not bad enough to take all of the pleasure of actually playing away. I didn't butted into the discussion, I knew it would die out in it's own accord as soon as a better topic presents itself. I was reading some articles while waiting for the queue to pop.

Seconds passed lazily but eventually there it was!

A loud sound echoing from my headphones drown out everybody talking in the background. I clicked the icon to tab back into the game and accept but from all sudden everything went black.

I cursed under my breath. Those power cuts would one day be the death of me...and a reason for my heart arrest.

But something was off. And it wasn't the light in all my home.

I looked around defeated. I didn't liked darkness too much and even if I was used to the power cuts I never kept a candle nearby. I cursed again. Awesome.

But as was about to start searching my desk in hopes of finding my phone...and the monitor blinked? Confused, I stopped mid-movement to observe what was going on. It seemed as if only the screen turned itself on. It was still black but there was a bit of light oozing from it.

And there was the queue that was supposed to pop in Dota but instead of ten avatars was one, mine, with the huge "accept" and "deny" buttons just under it. I sat back contemplating what did just happen...and that was not by any means normal. I took off the headphones to check if maybe I can hear the mild hum of my computer working...but there was none. As strange as it was, I was a bit worried about guys that were supposed to play with me having to wait for a while before queuing. I rose an eyebrow at huge button which was shining at me invitingly. I grabbed the mouse again and moved the cursor to hover just above the "accept" button.

-Looks legit...right?

I mumbled to myself, still staring. Eventually I just got bored of what I was seeing and, deciding it was something wrong with my monitor, I clicked the button.

The avatar turned green...and there was darkness again. The monitor seemed to have just turned itself off...well, it had no reason or way of being on without power supply anyway.

I sighed. No games for me then...

I looked around, not exactly happy about the whole situation. Power seemed to have died in most of the houses on my street...that meant there was no quick-fix for the situation. So no reading for me either. I sighed again.

Suddenly I felt very tired...I rubbed my temples with my thumbs.

Being awake for over fourteen hours must have taken a tool on me after all.

I pawed at the desk again and this time I managed to find my phone. I set an alarm and headed to bed. And I would have fallen asleep if it wasn't for the cold. From all sudden it was so cold in my room that I had to actually get up and put my hoodie on...along with my warm socks. Those with reindeer "faces" on sides were the warmest ones I had around so I just tugged them on my cold feet. Properly equipped, I crawled under covers feeling that the sleep will come a bit sooner than I expected this night. I yawned and finally closed my eyes.

I have no idea I could fall asleep so easily...

I woke up with a headache.

Sun was already reaching my face and I groaned.

It was probably late enough for the sun to already reach the window but it was still too early for me to be up. And it was cold, as if someone dragged my bed outside, just so the morning cold could freeze my ass before it got a bit warmer for the day. And the bed seemed to hard under my hip..and that fucking birds were chirping again...But why were there birds chirping in MY room?

My eyes snapped open as I tried to get up...so fast that my head collided with something. And that something made a weird, confused sound as it plopped on it's ass, in front of me.

-What the...?- I mumbled watching purple blur in front of me that seemed also still bemused.-The fuck is this?!

I shook my head violently, in an attempt to clear my vision. What the hell was that?! All I picked up before I got...or, more likely, before I knocked myself back down, was the fact that I was laying on the ground, on a pile of leaves or something. That would surely explain the pain in the hip. When my vision cleared itself enough I hastily looked around.

-Holy shit...-I mumbled staring at the fountain. Dire fountain.-The fuck is this...

I repeated, feeling my heart race. It was not my home anymore. I was not in my bed. It was not even my realm. I slowly turned my gaze to the place where the purple blur used to be, already suspecting what was awaiting me...and yes, I wasn't wrong. I let out a small yelp as my eyes rested on a man dressed in purple. His face covered in tattoos, his hair shaped into a mohawk, strong arms welding huge-ass blades...And the purple tunic. He was rubbing his forehead, staring at me, around equally confused.

-You're not Riki.-I heard myself mumble.-I don't know how to play you.

And with the last word the world went black again. I was thrown into a game. Dota2 to be precise.

When I woke up again the sun was already slowly setting. Being a grumpy creature I was, I cursed under my breath, staring at the sky. This time I was alone in the Dire's fountain. I knew this place well enough by now...I spent hours playing the game after all. I felt confused and sore. Passing out on the ground was probably not helping out at all. I slowly propped myself up on my elbows only to discover a purple blanket on my lap...I was probably covered by that before I decided to move. I stared at it.

-Anti-Mage. -I mumbled to myself, yes, I mumbled a lot when I got confused. I unconsciously examined the fabric with tips of the fingers of my left hand.-..did he?

-He did nothing bad. -There was an unfamiliar voice echoing behind me and I almost snapped my neck trying to take a look at the source of it.-He just made sure you weren't cold.

The Shop-keeper was smiling at me, most of his presence covered in dim light, he was about to light up some torches. I slowly stood up, making sure I won't make myself dizzier than I already was. I was shaking all over...probably I was just too stressed.

-Oh.-I blurted out, completely oblivious to the fact that I was still in my pyjamas, hoodie and had my reindeer socks on.- Do you happen to have ANY idea of what is going on here?

And then he laughed.

-We're defending the Ancients, what else did you expect?

I had close to no answer to that. I shrugged, slowly regaining bits and pieces of my former self-confidence.

-Dunno, maybe an explanation what am I doing here?

Question for question. Fuck you, stingy dick. But he only smiled some more.

-You accepted the call, that is exactly why are you here.

I raised an eyebrow. What he was saying was not completely wrong...I did clicked the accept button.

-Ok...-I started slowly.- But what, the hell, am I supposed to do here?

I haven't even noticed that I started to subconsciously fold the blanket I was previously covered with. The Shop-keeper didn't seemed too amused by my presence as, after lighting up the torches, he moved to polish one of the weapons he had to offer. Yasha, from what I collected. He smiled, not even looking at me anymore.

-Fight for the Dire, of course.-He stated in matter-of-a-fact manner. -Not much of a philosophy, is it?

I was still staring at him, mostly confused. How was I, a normal human without any special skills, supposed to be a match for ANY of the heroes?

-I'm no fit. -I shrugged.- In this fights I'm worth less then a crow.- Merchant raised an eyebrow, setting his gaze on me again. Ah, yes. -Courier. -He nodded either accepting me being no fit or worse than courier...or both. I continued, looking for arguments that he would recognize. -Ok, look. I have no special skills. Literally, none useful in the battle. The Dire will lose, with me in they're at least one man short comparing to the other team. I can't even hit.

The Shop-keeper stared at me, as if studying my presence and checking if I was right in my assumptions. Form what I knew about Dota: I was no match to anyone in the battle. I was a human, not even a sporty one. I could shoot a bow but my chances of missing were way greater than someone who welded one on everyday basis. Why the hell was I bargaining with the Merchant anyway? Oh, yeah...I had a feeling he knew something more, that could help me out. Because if he honestly was thinking I would grab a blade and go fighting against whatever was on the Radiant side he was overestimating me very badly.

-I agree. -He finally spoke, his voice serious yet calm. He slowly rubbed his temples.-I know you're no fit for this fight. -He sighed and gestured me to come closer what I obeyed.-You are completely not who I wanted to see here. But you accepted the challenge.

-But I was no aware it was one!

I protested but he shushed me with a movement of his hand.

-Lady... -He continued. -I have no idea what exactly happened but you did received the challenge and accepted it. -I wanted to protest again but I was once again shushed.- And when one does accept the challenge, they have to participate the battle.

I furrowed my eyebrows but said nothing.

-I can't send you back even if your presence is not what was desired.-The Merchant seemed more tired than anything, any signs of his previously good humour long gone.-All I can do is hope for another warrior to answer the call...Just so the battle won't be imbalanced.

-It will be anyway. -I huffed, leaning my elbow on the counter. I was feeling very defeated.-I am an extra, even if there will be a replacement for me. I will bother.

I was going to be a burden more than anything. And as curious about the place I was, I knew I stood close to no chance in a combat. And that was the purpose of the battle...I wasn't sure why it took place anywhere outside code of the game I knew. I was not even sure how it would look like all together...I sighed.

-You probably will. -The Shop-keeper was now checking the shine of the blade in a dim torch light. -But you might also be of help. You're not here without a reason I guess...

I looked at him, a soft frown on my features.

-For what reason am I here? We both agreed I'm not supposed to be here.

He looked up from the blade, locking my eyes with his. When he spoke he still sounded more tired than anything...and I was surprised why he even wanted to keep talking to me.

-I know you worry how it will go. And I know for you it's only just a game...but you have to remember that those who fight also have feelings. Here they are not programmed to obey, they have their own will.-He stood up, now towering over my hunched form. I raised an eyebrow. -I might be wrong...but the way you see your own life might be exactly the reason why you got the challenge at all. And as much as I think you don't belong here at all...-I straightened up my posture and the Merchant lowered his voice again. -One thing doesn't change: only special ones will be able to receive the challenge.

I stood like that for a while, studying the man's face. He was completely serious about what he was saying...I was quite good at sensing lies after all. And I decided he was not lying. I nodded, accepting my fate. For now.

-We shall see, I guess. You know a lot, don't you.

He returned the nod, smile tugging on his lips.