A/N(This will be kind of long, so skip to the asterisk if you just wanna get to the story): So this began as a request for ElisexZyra, and it just kind of evolved into much more of a serious plot then I originally planned. The idea for the birth of Haunted Zyra wasn't even considered until 1/3 of the story was already written. I like the way it came out, however; At the end of the day, I believe I told a good story and everything turned out for the best. I will admit, it took serious willpower not to make them bang, as you will probably notice, but I did learn I liked this ship a lot, so hey, maybe I'll write some smut for them down the line.

Anywho, remember to send your requests and click those buttons! Or not. It's fine. I'll just... go read a book or something.

Cheers!

.***

Returning to her dormitory, Zyra yawned, more out of boredom than tiredness. That was the third game on Summoner's Rift in a row poor, hapless Ezreal fell for the 'harmless flower' bit. Honestly, sometimes she wondered how humans got to the top of the food chain. Why with a little ingenuity and a few more seeds, this world could be hers without much effort. Smiling to herself, she lay on her bed and stared at the ceiling, fantasizing of turning the world into her own massive garden. Humanity subject to the whim of their botanical masters! Vines overtake the seas and buildings! Seedlings forcing humans and animals to cultivate their brethren! Why, she could dream all day…

…And along came a spider to make her to make her day even better.

These beautiful monsters were well-trained; it scuttled across Zyra's leg and got as far as her chest before she even noticed. "Hello, curious creature," She cooed, extending her finger to the small spider. It crawled onto her index, and began to purr when Zyra stroked its head with her other hand. "Is your mother getting lonely without my touch?"The spider's head bobbed up and down, appreciating the attention she gave it. Zyra should have known- She hadn't visited Elise in days. Her spider queen was probably getting antsy. Maybe it was time she got lost in the web again.

"Tell your mother I'll come by tonight, as long as she doesn't forget to tend my flowers." The spider squealed in understanding, before jumping off her finger and crawling toward the window. Before it departed, it caught an insect lurking near her window seedlings, draining it of its blood before it could even touch her beautiful plant. Such a beautiful thing, Zyra thought. There hasn't been an insect bite on my children in ages.

"Now who was it that said you can't mix business and pleasure?" the plant woman wondered out loud.

.***

Long after the 'normal' champions had gone to bed, Zyra left her dormitory and started for what she called the Dark of the Woods. If someone got too curious, maybe explored a tad too long, slowly, ever so slowly, they would see their environment turn against them: The tress begin to gnarl and lose their leaves, turning Evergreens into Weeping Willows; webs, larger than any normal spider could make, appear everywhere; and before you realize it, you're caught. You get to watch something with eight legs and too many eyes drink your blood, and maybe even eat you.

Really, there was nothing about that that wasn't attractive to Zyra.

So she strode calmly towards the center of the Dark, listening to the skitter of legs that welcomed their other mother. Occasionally one would climb onto her shoulder and make noise to announce itself, nuzzling against her neck before crawling away and resuming its activities. As she got closer and closer, Zyra saw her plants blooming among the macabre woods. The dark of the wood and the pale green of the plants would appear paradoxical to most, but to people like Zyra and Elise, this was home.

When she finally arrived in the deepest part of the Dark, Zyra didn't need to see the Spider Queen to know she was there. She walked to the center, trying to pinpoint the strange rustling sound that seemed to come from everywhere. On a hunch, she looked up, just as a black and red spider, larger than anything she had previously seen, descended towards her on a thread of webbing. It hissed at her, but Zyra didn't have a single doubt in her mind to its true form. Even under its threatening guise, she could feel Elise under the hard carapace.

"You're not mad at me, are you?" Zyra asked, cradling the spiders head in one of her hands. It gave another hiss, but this one was much more half-hearted. "If I'd known you'd miss me so much, I would have visited sooner. Pull me into your web and let's talk." The spider resisted for a moment, but eventually squealed in agreement. Smiling, Zyra held onto the carapace as her feet were plucked off the ground. Elise kept her personal web at the very top of the trees, and no matter how many times she did this, she would always place a bed of thorns beneath her, just in case she fell.

At the very top, however, the ground was the least of her worries. Without a city light to pull away their glow, the sky above Elise's web was bright with starlight, sending a twinkling glow upon the strands of web. Nestled in the very center, Zyra watched the black and red spider crawl closer and closer, until its body overtook her. She had no reason to be afraid; she learned a long time ago that Elise liked to be in control, and even when she wasn't, she enjoyed keeping up appearances.

The spider's body flared outward in a dark red mist, and in the center of that mist was the flexible body of Elise, long legs on either side of Zyra's smaller body. She pulled back her lips, baring the fangs that were very, very good at piercing flesh. Instead of wasting time with trivial greetings, she pressed her lips against the plant woman, running a finger through her red hair. Both of their scents wrapped together amongst the trees, nature at its purest form as they both let themselves disappear into their affections. When Elise finally pulled away, she swung her legs off Zyra's body and took another position at her side, sliding one hand under her back and another over her stomach.

"I admit, I missed you," were the first words to come from Elise's mouth, the tips of her finger drawing circles on Zyra's belly. "Even my children were beginning to whine when you didn't stop by the past few days."
The botanical beauty gave the slightest of laughs as she pulled Elise closer, an arm around her shoulders. "Are you sure you're not a little upset with me?" Zyra asked, lightly pulling on a strand of hair. "You seemed a lot more hesitant when we were on the ground."
"I was a little upset, but you know I can be a little…clingy." She admitted. "Forgiven?"
"Forgotten." Zyra corrected, stealing a quick kiss from the spider queen. "Now, did you just wish to see me, or is there another matter?"

Elise opened her mouth as if she wished to say something, but instead looked away, unsure of how to word it. What's worse, now her hand lay flat on Zyra's belly, actually shaking in worry. "There is a slight…problem." Elise began, not looking Zyra in her eyes. "My… father wishes to meet you."
Zyra was relatively sure she misheard her. "…What?"
"He's not my biological father," Elise explained, "but he is definitely my parent, and he wishes to meet you."
"Elise, you are hiding something from me." Zyra pointed out, growing more and more wary with each passing second. "Who exactly would I be meeting?"

Now Elise withdrew her hands completely, clasping them together. "I explained to him our…business agreement, but he deduced rather quickly that there was something much more between us. If we are to remain together, his blessing would be a great weight off of my shoulders." Exasperated, Zyra pulled away, now sitting and staring her lover in the eyes. "Elise, who?"

From someplace far away, she finally clarified: "Lord Vilemaw, my love."

Zyra felt her body stiffen. She had heard that name several times before, never in a positive light. She had heard rumors that Elise and Vilemaw were connected, but Elise would always counter that the evidence was 'circumstantial, at best'. If she was this worried about it- especially from someone who was almost always calm and collected- than this a very serious matter. She tossed it around in her head for a few minutes, letting the quiet skitters around her punctuate her thoughts. She loved Elise very much, even told her so(Though a few of those times were her shouting the words in the middle of an orgasmic reverie), so if this was what she needed to do to keep her heart, then so be it.

"When do we depart?" Zyra finally asked, a smile crossing her lips.

Elise exhaled in relief, falling to her back. "We can leave tomorrow afternoon, and be back before it gets too late."
"You make it sound as if this will be easy," Zyra noted, laying her had on her lover's chest.
"It won't be, but if everything was easy, where would the challenge be?"

Zyra smirked, resting her chin on the woman's chest. "You would know a lot about being easy, wouldn't you?"
"Are you implying something?" Elise raised an eyebrow, but her hand was wrapping tightly around Zyra's hair.
"Maybe," she whispered, and began kissing down the woman's body. "But you have all night to prove me wrong."

.***

After a rather exhausting evening, the two women set out in the early afternoon to a small dock Zyra didn't know existed. It was farther into the Dark of the Woods, much farther than she normally traveled. "I'll call our boat," Elise said, moving down the dock. In a flurry of red mist, four limbs became eight as her menacing spider form scuttled to the end of the pier. Once she reached the end, she bared her fangs and began to call out in a tone of spider noise Zyra wasn't familiar with. She screeched and squealed for several minutes, as if she were communicating with an unseen force.

When she finally ceased, a boat floated from under the pier, less than seconds after another mist returned Elise to her humanoid form. Without a glance to Zyra, she stepped into the boat and stuck her hand in the water, appearing to be touching a large shadow under the boat. There was something about the way she was acting that unnerved Zyra greatly, but pushed it to the back of her mind as she carefully lowered herself into the boat. No sooner than her feet touching the floor did the boat begin to move, heading deep into a thick fog.

Though the fog was thick enough that they couldn't see each other's faces, Zyra felt a firm grip encircle her hand. "Zyra, I have to explain a few things before we arrive," Elise explained from somewhere in the mist. "When we arrive, I need you to stay very close to me. The creatures of the Shadow Isles- particularly the spiders- can be a little…fickle. Just stay very close to me until we reach the Inner Sanctum." Almost nodding her head, Zyra squeezed her lover's hand to ensure she understood. Inner Sanctum. Those words repeated in her head the entire time, just long enough to nearly reconsider this trip.

It took several hours, but eventually the fog thinned, and the dark glory of the Shadow Isles beckoned them to its shore. Within a moment, Zyra understood immediately why this place was so taboo- she hadn't even gotten out of the boat, but the mere sight of the blackened shores sent chills down her spine. If sensing her fear, Elise gave her hand another squeeze, and then a laugh when Zyra nearly jumped from the boat. Something about the emotion- something Elise lacked for the majority of the trip- calmed her down, though only in the slightest.

"Remember what I said," Elise warned. "Closer than a shadow. It isn't far… but it's still far enough."

Once the boat reached the shore, both women pressed their feet into the strange sand of the isles, taking fast steps away from the shore. Taking the other woman's advice to heart, Zyra was never more than a few inches from Elise's back at all times. As they moved deeper inland into the island, the environment became a forest that made the Dark look a paradise. It seemed to sap the very will out of her soul. If she hadn't been so close to Elise and determined to put one foot in front of the other, she would have given up long ago.

"Elise…" Even her voice was rapidly becoming devoid of life. "Is this…normal?"
"Normal for an outsider, yes." Elise, however, was unfazed. "Think of it like snorkeling, or going to space. Once you do it enough times, your fine."
"Neither of those things…try to swallow…your soul."
"Well, now you're just nit-picking, baby."

After the longest five minutes of Zyra's life, they entered a cave with a large scrawl of a spider on the ground, mere feet from the entrance. The moment they stepped inside, the weight on Zyra's spirit ceased, and Elise gave her a moment to catch her breath. "I should have warned you about that," Elise admitted, folding her arms. "That was Karthus' sector of the isles. As you can see, he's not very sociable. If we survive, it'll be easier the second time around." If. There was never a time when Zyra, let alone anyone, was glad to hear that word.

After proceeding, Zyra noticed that more and more spiders were quickly appearing from holes and corners she hadn't previously noticed. These spiders, however, were wary of the newcomer, despite her connection to their 'mother'. Without even asking, she knew that this was Vilemaw's brood, not Elise's, so she kept her distance and eyes forwarded, trying to ignore their hisses as they proceeded deeper and deeper into the nightmare.

It was less than a minute later that Zyra began to see the bones- bones that looked curiously human- that peppered the ground. The ceiling began to rise so high that it appeared a mass of darkness was less than a hundred feet above them. And most upsetting of all, the small spiders began to back away, as if even they were scared of what lurked in this chamber. "Stay calm, and don't look back," Elise advised.

On the other side of the cave, Zyra could hear something large and sinister quickly closing the distance, something that was not very pleased to have visitors. Even with a peck on the cheek and hurried 'I love you' in her ear seconds before, the sight of Vilemaw in the flesh drained any confidence Zyra had, and her spirit was about as lively as the bones she was so close to joining.

It leaned in very closely, a mass of brown with eyes the color of infected flesh, and made a low squealing noise. Having spent more than a sufficient amount of time with Elise's babies, Zyra could tell that it's 'voice' was rather ancient, almost like an extinct dialect. "He asked you if you were the weed corrupting his priestess." Elise whispered into her ear, translating her Lord's words.
Zyra's voice caught in her throat for a moment, but she answered, "Yes…my Lord." If Vilemaw was placated by her respect, he showed no signs of it.

Instead, he moved even closer, and spoke with a low, threatening hiss. "He…he wants you to know that being a plant will not save you from his fangs if he finds you unsatisfactory." Elise's voice didn't beget worry, but her face probably did; Zyra didn't turn to check, lest she end up doing the same thing. Instead of letting her respond, Vilemaw reared onto its back legs and let out a long squeal, almost dignified. "He wants you to explain our business agreement." Elise translated. "Step forward."

That one step was heavier than any she had taken since arriving. The inch it added to Vilemaw's height nearly made her retch. "I…scattered my seedlings along her home," she explained, holding one in her palm. "They attract insects which feed her- your brood, increasing their number. In the end, the size of both our domains increase." Unbelievably, Vilemaw nodded, and the slightest of hope began to light in her heart. Then he squealed again, this one low and curious. "And when exactly," Elise swallowed while she spoke, and that spark of hope died. "Did violating my Priestess become a part of your agreement?"

Zyra racked her brain for anything- anything- that might be a suitable answer, but not even air was moving on her highway of thoughts. Anytime she seemed to grasp one, one glance at those very furious eyes would cause it to slip from her fingers. Now Vilemaw leaned forward again, this time close enough that Zyra could see the poison dripping from his fangs, the squeal that rumbled from within his jaw nothing less than murderous. "Can you convince me why you should leave this chamber alive?" Was Elise…crying? She wondered how many of those bones were previous lovers, those who had failed the test just like-

Wait.

Now she understood.

Whether it was bravery or stupidity, she wasn't sure, but Zyra stepped forward until she was face to face with a God. And to that Deity, she fought with the only weapon she had: Her will. "I understand the purpose of these questions now." Zyra's voice didn't shake, it didn't falter. "No matter what I said, I would have failed. And then, eventually, the cycle would repeat itself. It doesn't matter if it's a group of fanatics or Elise's lover; to you, everyone is a sacrifice. And I…" -she paused to raise a line of Thorn Spitters from the ground, misshapen and rotted by Shadow Isles magic-"…am no one's sacrifice!"

For several, tense seconds, Zyra foresaw a fight. At the very least, she hoped to at least nick Vilemaw before he tore her to pieces. Their eyes locked all the while, and Zyra was moments from sending out an attack command when Vilemaw…retreated? She blinked furiously, sure she was seeing these things. He gave a final roar of departure before slinking back into the shadows, moving farther and farther away until only Elize and Zyra- a changed Zyra- were the only remaining souls.

No sooner than Zyra exhaled did Elise throw her arms around her. "That was stupid, you could have gotten yourself killed, are you insane-" she babbled happily, placing a kiss on her cheek after each rebuff.
"So…Do I have his blessing?" Zyra asked, warily eyeing the darkness.
"Yes," Elise confirmed. "But he did say if you ever threatened him again, he would eat your legs."
Zyra grimaced. "Noted."

Now that her attempt to commit suicide-by-Spider-God was over, she raised a hand to wipe her brow…and saw that her skin had turned a mottled grey, like a discarded snakeskin. In fact, this mottled grey covered her entire body, head to toe. Pressed earth formed a small skirt around her waist, and her hair seemed to be made from the same substance. "When…did this happen?" she asked, checking her neck for a pulse.

"It happened when you summoned your plants," Elise explained, eyeing her like a specimen. "I've never seen this happen before. You actually took the Shadow Isles' magic, and combined it with your own."
"Huh." For someone whose physical form was just twisted into a gothic caricature of her former self, she actually seemed quite calm about it. "I kind of like it. Do I fit in your world now?"
"We'll have to let the Isles decide that."

.***

A week later, Zyra and Elise had rewound time; they were back in Elise's web, kissing under the starlight. The Dark had taken a change for the 'better'- Zyra's gnarled vines now coiled about trees, and her seeds and plants seemed to resemble gravestones, giving off an eerie dark blue light. Her body had not reverted, but in her world's problems, it didn't even make the list.

"I meant to ask you," Elise remembered, sitting comfortably on top of her haunted suitor. "What did the summoners say about your new look?"
"The eyes scare them," Zyra admitted, running her fingers along Elise's breasts. "But other than that, they really like it. It's only skin deep, anyway; if I chose to, I could probably dissolve it."
"But?"
"But I think I'll stay like this for a bit. I want to try to do your homeland proud."

Stroking the woman's cheek, Elise gave a small smile. "I've never had an undead girlfriend. This could be fun."
"I'm not all undead, you know," Zyra whispered, licking her lips. "Last night, I got curious. I'm still very much alive…where it matters."
"Really?" Elise asked, leaning back to slide her finger into the earthen skirt. "Then I better make the rest of you feel alive."