Author's notes: Honestly saying much here without spoiling anything is tricky. I remind you guys, please read sparks first if you haven't already as this is the chapter when people and events from Sparks start happening. Enjoy.

Chapter 2

Friends in High Places.

18.06.24CLE

The sounds of life leaked through Quinn's door into her sleeping brain. The Scout swore the second she touched the institute beds that she would never move again. Her room was discovered to not only have a chilled place to store food but running water as well. A luxury in all respects, contrasting the compactness of the space she had been given. She found herself flickering back and forth over the edges of sleep. She shifted with a groan.

Voices echoed from outside her door, Quinn felt her eyes slide open. Sunlight streamed through her window as Valor sat curled up at the foot of her bed, somehow managing to look more like a kitten then a hawk. Quinn felt herself smiling tiredly at him before giving him a shove under the covers with her foot. He lazily rose and imparted her with the most annoyed look she had ever seen. Quinn stretched; she had never slept so well in her life, putting her in an incredibly good mood.

"I didn't know they assigned Polticals rooms." a voice Quinn failed to recognize drifted under her door. The tak tak of approaching footsteps followed, armour clinking together as well.

"They let you pick yours?" this voice was Familar, the high pitched cheerful sound could only belong to Lux.

The second voice lowered slightly. "so did you find out who she's against?" Lux audibly sighed.

"You could just wait and find out, you'll get to watch regardless." Lux shot back.

"So you did. Compulsive spying?" there was a silence, the two stopped in front of her door. Quinn found herself listening intently.

"Riven." Lux said flatly. A knock landed on Quinn's door. Valor wobbled to his feet, stretching his wings as Quinn fumbled around for her clothing.

"Just a second!" she called through the door, her voice reaching an odd mix between cheerful and embarrassed. After a brief moment of struggling the zipper was drawn on her nazy blue body-sock and she scooped up her leather chestpeice and tossed it onto her bed. Her fingers wrapped around the doorknob and pulled it ajar.

Lux shot her a bright toothy smile and a wave. Quinn smiled at how welcoming she was. Her eyes turning to the woman next to Lux. The expression faltering. Lux had at least ten inches on this woman as did Quinn, the leer she was giving Lux shifted, eyes first to Quinn. The Ionian woman from yesterday.

"So wh-" Quinn began.

"Who's Riven?" the Ionian finished for her. Quinn blinked. The expression intensified, Lux bit her lip nervously.

"She's the defector from Noxus, a very nice woman actually." Lux spoke up.

"So I'm fighting a Noxian. Good to know." Quinn said softly, motioning behind her to Valor. A squawk left her room. Quinn scowled. "Val.. come on." Another squawk, Quinn sighed. She snapped her fingers commandingly and with a begrudging flap the bird settled on her outstretched arm. Valor looked at her is if she had just robbed him. Quinn smiled, rubbing the feathers on his head. he cu'ed softly his eyes shifting to the pair in front of them, he scanned Lux then his eyes locked onto the Ionian's. Quinn felt the talons tighten around her forearm, Valor became stock still, feathers bristling. The corners of the womans mouth curled softly upward as a stiff silence followed. Lux looked from her friend, to Quinn, to the hawk that looked as if it had turned to stone.

"Val, are you okay?" Quinn asked worriedly. The bird remained still, staring then without warning exploded into a flapping array of frenzied squawking and lunged. Talons left Quinn's arm, luckily enough she was fast, her arms wrapped around the flailing animal mid lunge and crushed him against her chest. Lux jumped back surprised while Valor flailed around wildly, sending feathers everywhere. The woman just watched. "VALOR!" Quinn yelled, doing her best to pull him backward into her room, he gave a final angry screech at the woman before stilling. His eyes not leaving hers. There was a pause. The Ionian let off a whistle through her lips.

"Who the hell are you?" Quinn asked sternly.

"Celene. He's adorable." Celene motioned to Valor, trapped uncomfortably against Quinn's chest. The bird blinked; not expecting to be complimented. Quinn felt her head tilt in confusion. Lux let out the breath she had been holding. Quinn looked at Valor shocked, this wasn't something he had ever done before. She shifted in her brown traveling cloak, turning and striding off; likely towards food.

"Valor, what did you see?" Quinn asked carefully, letting go of him, he half glided to the floor with a clink of his talons, following the woman with his eyes as she with some effort pushed the double doors open and slipped through. Valor looked up at his friend, letting of a chirp with an insistent look. "Protect me from what?" Quinn asked.

Lux stepped in. "he probably got some odd vibes off her, she isn't human." she said flatly. Quinn looked at her.

The Scout knelt down, allowing Valor onto her shoulder, the bird with a flap and a hop landed carefully. "What is she then?" Quinn asked, odd beings on runeterra were not uncommon and now that she thought about it, she was in the perfect place to see many of them; like it or not.

Lux stole a glance over her shoulder. "Shes a body snatcher." Valor cawed. Quinn turned the situation over in her head, Lux had clearly not only known her a while but wasn't bothered by her; maybe even felt safe.

"You're gonna be okay?" Quinn asked Valor softly. He gave her a nod, causing Lux to squeak at the sight and she straightened up. "...This place..." The two began to march, conversation breaking out. Despite the shell shock Quinn's good mood remained. Lux even got her to laugh, an odd sound she wasn't to familiar with. The smell of food wafted over them as they left the hall. Quinn smiled, only just noticing how hungry she was.


The heavy weapon was halted, with some effort this time. She blinked her amber eyes, sweat dripping from her brow and rolling to the tip of her nose. She sighed, a unique sound of an odd pitch. Her weapon was lowered as she stood in the middle of her room that she had been making circles around for the past two hours. She glanced at the weapon in her hand, a jagged once glorious sword made of stone, the green runes that lined it illuminated the room dully. Deciding that was enough practice she left the weapon on her bed and turned toward her bathroom.

"Riven." a woman's voice shot through her thoughts. She blinked, feeling the mental tether pulling at her attention like a rope; the unique and signature communication method of the summoners.

"Summoner Kathrine" Riven said aloud.

"Sorry to bother you. Did Parrish tell you that you have a special engagement today?" Riven nodded, briefly feeling stupid as the summoner could not see it.

"She did." Riven muttered as her clothing was shed. "When am I expected on the Proving Grounds?"

"An hour, maybe more." Katherine answered back, Riven sighed heavily; sinking preemptively into the bath she had already prepared. "Okay, Just making sure." Riven felt the tether snap, she shook her head before submerging it in the tub. With a gasp she burst from the surface, sinking into a relaxed stupor. As was often the case with bathing, time seemed to slip away. After what she guessed was thirty minutes the water was emptied and Riven had just finished re-buckling the last clasp on her clothing.

A light fingered knock landed on her door. Riven turned her eyes towards it, already knowing who it was just from the sound. "Come in." there was a flutter from the other side of the door. A flash of blue light followed instantly, Celene rested her shoulders against the door, her head falling level with Riven's four deadbolts.

"So I met her. I figured a bit of scouting couldn't hurt." she spoke up, glancing around Riven's space.

"The Demacian with the hawk? I saw her yesterday, she walked by me in the square." Riven answered flatly. "So why the urgency?"

"Her bird doesn't like me." Celene said flatly she smirked. "I wanted to wish you luck." Riven nodded at her, offering a smile, which was lovingly returned "Try not to die." the Ionian teased, her voice distorting as she vanished, leaving Riven alone in the dim green glow from her weapon. Her stomach grumbled and with that her next destination was decided for her. With a blink she began to undo the deadbolts on her door, holding her inside her dimly lit box. Better to eat something now, might be my last chance. She paused, a smile creeping onto her face. She still wasn't used to it.


To say she wasn't nervous would be lieing. Quinn's expression sat on serious as she scribbled in the back of her journal. With a smile she finished, turning to show her work to Valor. He tilted his head questioningly. It was a diagram, not unlike the many Valor had seen, with himself represented with a V.

she was to jump backwards off of her enemy while he swooped in from above. Quinn thought for a brief moment before persiing her lips and giving off a low rhythmic set of whistles; the signal for the play. Valor nodded at her and she smiled.

"Got it?" he nodded. "Good." she reached across the space of the tabletop to plant her hand on his head and ruffle the feathers, she scowled and peaked at her electing a giggle. Lux raised her eyebrow, a table over and to Quinn's left. Watching a full blown conversation break out between the two.

"She's weird." Lux commented to Vayne flatly.

"I agree, but that's a good thing." said Celene, leaning over the back of Lux's chair. Lux jumped, not releasing she was there. Garen shot her an odd look as Vayne scowled at her. There was a pause.

"She oddly resembles you Vayne." Celene said flattly.

"I suppose, I don't see why that matters." Vayne replied flatly. Celene smiled at her.

"You look worried." Lux spoke up, eyeing Garen.

He sighed loudly. "They are of the elite guard, if they preform poorly we will all look like fools."

"Kinda like what happened between me and Lux?" Celene butted in, there was a stiff silence.

"In my defense I didn't know what I was fighting." Lux snapped.

Celene leered briefly. "That's the advantage of being unimposing, I think its unfair to underestimate her."

Garen rested his chin on his hands, watching the Scout hang a piece of food tormentingly out of her Bird's reach. "We'll see." Lux shot him a look, he was being strange.


Quinn paused, allowing Valor to have the piece of fish. She nodded her head as if being talked to and got to her feet, motioning for Valor to perch himself on her arm guard. Her hand fell to her bowgun. After a brief pause, runes, blindingly bright blue lit up, writing themselves circularly around her feet. The orb centralized at the ceiling of the hall buzzed and flickered to life, showing the proving grounds. Everyone paused to watch as Quinn sighed nervously and vanished with a whoosh.

Quinn felt her knees buckle under her as she slammed into the stone of the summoning platforming, her stomach turned as she dropped to all fours. Ragged coughing echoed far into the early afternoon as she staggered to her feet. Valor was experiencing a similar adventure stumblingly clumsy across the cobbles. After some rather interesting sounds the fish Quinn had teased him with; or part of it ended up in front of him.

"WELCOME TO THE PROVING GROUNDS!"

"Did you read the booklet that was issued to you?" Werhan echoed through her thoughts.

"Yeah I did but I prefer to learn through experience." Quinn said with a groan, straitening up and shooting a worried look Valor's way.

"You'll get used to that, the first time is always the worst." Werhan said, Quinn could practically see him smiling. She nodded, looking forward. In front of her was a large structure, a glowing crystal sat shimmering purple at its center with six stone figures surrounding it. The platform it self was raised high into the air, pine tree visible off in the distance. Quinn eyed the view for me a moment before turning her eyes to Valor. He chirped impatiently before taking flight.

"What are your orders summoner?" Quinn asked cooly.

"Orders? This is on you bird girl." Quinn scowled. "But if you insist. Hang on, let me grab my list."

"List?" Quinn frowned.

"Yeah, believe it or not I haven't done this before."

God dammit, just my luck. Quinn thought to herself.

"Heard that, you don't need to speak out loud for me to hear you. Okay so, Done that, done that; oh here!" a blue haze began to overtake the edges of Quinn's vision. To her surprise her hand raised itself in front of her face and curled her fingers without her instruction.

"What did you-?!"

"This is what its like to be piloted by a summoner." he said cheerfully over her thoughts, she attempted to groan in dread but her lips wouldn't listen. "Okay so how a typical match works is; that structure in front of is the Nexus. Its a annex of magic energy but anyways, your team wins the match when the enemy Nexus is destroyed. We aren't doing that today, we are playing till one kill."

"Playing? I don't know if this is a game; someones dying." Quinn thought as sternly as she could. Valor cawed at her impatiently to get moving.

"Ehh its whatever." The control released, Quinn felt herself wobble as her inner ear protested the forced control. "So those structures in front of you we call towers, there is a circle of runes on the ground in front of them that marks their range, I wouldn't advise stepping inside."

"Okay, runes bad." Quinn noted verbally.

"Only if they aren't yours'. The teams are color coded, so right now, purple runes good."

"Okay."

A Caw echoed back to Quinn over the soft rustle of pine trees. Enemy. One. Warrior. Noxian. Quinn shot him back a few staggered whistles and drew her weapon.

"MINIONS HAVE SPAWNED!" The announcer boomed.

"Minions?" Quinn asked mentally.

"Yes. Magical constructs; killing an enemy Minion, tower or champion will give the summoner points- we just call them gold. We can use gold to purchase enchantments from the shopkeeper behind you that augment your abilities."

"-So in order to win, you need to maximize your gold income by killing all the minions you can, it snow balls." Quinn finished for him.

"Yes indeed, but that's my job. For now just jog along side that wave of minions towards the center." Quinn spotted the line of living dolls holding what looked like toy weapons. She smiled, the sight was odd and could even be described as childish. Matching there steady pace required a brisk jog, before long the arena narrowed down and as Quinn passed her second tower the central space was spotted. A tower mirrored hers on the cobble fields opposite side, sporting a shield and a staff topped with a blue crystal. Quinn slide to a halt with a scruff of her boots. Against the opposing tower, sitting with her head hung was a woman.

White hair topped her head, mixing with the white traveling clothing and remains of heavy battle armor littered on her person. A stone sword lay across her lap as she sat cross legged looking at it, her fingers brushing its surface. Quinn tilted her head to the side before sneaking a glance upward to spot Valor, he circled her protectively. Quinn stepped forward slowly, not allowing her eyes to drift from her singular obstetrical, she remained either unaware or disregarding of her presence, not moving even as her wave of minions shuffled past her.

The two waves collided and began to club each other over the head and hurl pathetic looking balls of light. Quinn briefly paused to watch, an odd sight. "Try killing one." Werhan spoke up, Quinn nodded, raising her crossbow eye level and spying a minion on the far left. The weapon discharged with a thunk, embedding the bolt in its face. The construct fell backward and exploded into purple flame. The woman against the tower tensed visibly at the discharge, a sound that sat within her memory.

Quinn paused as the two met eyes, brown meeting vivid amber. The woman frowned solemnly at her before moving a little to quickly for Quinn's taste as she got to her feet. The very heavy looking broken weapon she held scrapped against the stone as she straightened upright.

"Whats your name?" her voice seemed to drift sadly across the battle space, soft in tone over the dull clunks of the waring minions. Quinn blinked, being very wary of her as she took a step closer. With the wind she questioned her crossbows reach, it was hardly the most effective weapon and as such had to be made up for.

Silence finally broke "Why should I give a Noxian the grace of knowing my name?" Quinn asked.

"Does your book tell you to say that?" Riven questioned. "What does your conscience tell you to do?" Quinn blinked. A Noxian talking about conscience? What in the fuck?

"Riven is really cool actually if you get to know her, be friendly"

I'm about to kill her. Quinn answered mentally.

"You don't know that."

she sighed. "Quinn." the scout called. The womans expression shifted to a soft smile, her stance adjusting. Quinn dared to blink, there was a good forty feet between them but she had seen some very fast runners in her time, this woman was built like one, cumbersome weapon or no. she let out the final whistle; a call to arms as the woman leveled her weapon with Quinn.

"Riven" she placed her hand on her chest. "I am glad you answered, its better then fighting nameless soldiers and ghosts." she took a step, Valor cawed back Ready. Riven gazed forward at her Demacian opponent with newly established purpose. "The summoners want a gauge of your strength, temper yourself." Riven said lowly. The scout tensed as Riven slipped into a state of hyper focus.

Oh fuck.

Quinn had never seen anyone charge so fast in her life. Quinn felt the knot in her throat expend to the size of an apple. Her first instinct when charged by a Noxian with an officers' weapon was to run for her life, not stand and fight. It was then when she realized just how out of place she was. Quinn was a scout, Ill equipped, ill armored and ill trained to take on an opponent as dangerous as the one now charging her.

Quinn snapped her weapon upward, feeling her fight or flight explode forward with the bolt from the crossbow. Riven tucked her head downward, tightening her shoulders, the single peldron providing a surprising amount of coverage as she ducked left, the bolt sailed past her. Fuck! Quinn out of practiced habit hadn't waited to see if it connected, the bowgun's slide was drawn and the second shot loosed. This time Riven was too close to avoid it, lowering and adjusting her body so it struck her single piece of armour with a shower of sparks. FUCK! Quinn panicked; the gap was being closed, Riven within ten feet of her. Quinn wristled loudly, less then a second later Valor came rocketing from outside Riven's vision, talons bared. The two collided with a scrap of talons against stone as Riven reflectively raised her sword. he soared past her, looping around for another pass. Her charge stilled as Valor swooped in again, pulling up in a feint as Riven was on her guard. A bolt painfully lodged itself in her upper arm. Quinn cursed, she had been arming for her head.

Riven turned to the scout again, she had to single one of them out and she knew it, and Quinn was land locked. The blade was cocked over Riven's head as the gap finally disappeared with a lunge. Quinn backpedaled away from it, stumbling over one of her own minions as the weapon passed within inches of her face. Riven recycled the energy, converting it into a forward jab. Quinn knocked the blow aside with her arm guard, tucking the bowgun tightly against her stomach to prevent her aim from being disrupted she fired. Amazingly Riven curled around the bolt, her sword lagging behind her in a head level swing. Quinn nearly lost her head dumbstruck by what Riven just did. Her senses caught her at the last moment and she ducked, her heart pounding in her ears and made to sweep at the womans legs. Riven tucked her shin, blunting the attack as Valor dug his talons into her shoulders. She winced. A blast of green light exploded from her sword, Quinn lost her balance as the force caught in Valors extended wings and sent him spiraling to the cobbles. The crossbow was raised in a desperate defense. Riven ducked inside Quinn's guard, pining the weapon behind her head as she swung the sword down over her head with a yell. Quinn barely avoided it as it bit into the cobbles, sending flecks of stone everywhere. Her off hand gripped Rivens wrist.

She quickly learned that not only was this 'Riven' very fast but incredibly strong, overpowering her as if she were a child, luckily enough Valor came screaming into the fray at just that moment, colliding head first with Riven and taking her off her feet, she converted the energy into a roll as he wobbled in flight before stabilizing and looping around to charge again. This time Riven ducked him as Quinn scrabbled to her feet and pedaled backward; terrified. To her stunned horror Riven deflected her next shot with her sword before shooting her a cool but challenging look. She then pivoted to intercept Valor. the Bird saw it and pulled up, though not enough as Riven swatted at him with her sword, he streaked to avoid it, bushing the ground as he twisted over Rivens shoulder. Pivoting again she lunged at Quinn with a yell. The scout had her, Riven's soft smile and powerful eyes filled her weapons sights and she pulled the trigger. Rivens off hand came up to shield her face, the bolt punching through the palm of her hand, jutting from her knuckles. She gritted her teeth, forcing the pain to flow past her as energy exploded from her sword, disrupting Quinn's second shot and stopping her feathery friend dead in his tracks. With a swing she within reach, her blade meeting Quinn's arm guard. Sparks jumped as Quinn was swatted clean off her feet, a solid crack of bone echoing over the field before she landed on her feet and stumbled, looking up to see Riven on her again.

The stone sword sailed less then an inch from her face as the woman sank into a practiced combo. The energy was redirected back towards the scout, the next swing coming lower and from her left. Quinn saw her chance, planting her foot against the womans shoulder she kicked off into a backsflip with a whistle. Valor slammed into Riven's back, electing a yell of pain as Quinn centered her sights mid air, the weapon discharged, the bolt digging into Riven's stomach with a thunk Quinn landed in a backwards roll, her sights snapping level again and firing. The weapon locked forward, signaling it was empty as the last shot landed in the woman's thigh. Valor pulled up, circling over Quinns head as Riven wobbled, her breathing heavy but to Quinns horror remained standing. Blood leaked from her onto the stone as she gave Quinn a driven smile. The look only given was something was being fought for tooth and nail. She straightened herself.

Quinn realised she wouldn't stop until a directly lethal shot was landed or she won. The bowgun was tossed upward to Valor. Her good hand shot to her belt for another magazine. Riven glanced at her sword. "It seems you're built more to run then fight..." Riven exhailed through her nose. "You don't win wars by running." Riven muttered as she allowed the pain to wash over her. Quinn cocked an eyebrow. The broken sword in her hand pulsed as she raised into one handed into a guard stance. The blade exploded green, fragments of stone seating themselves into a whole, magically bonded blade, nearly seven feet long. The color drained from Quinn's face as she fumbled to reload her weapon one handed, sneaking a look upward at Riven whom opted to march rather then run towards her. Her pace quickened as Quinn jammed the slide under her armpit and cocked the weapon with some effort. Riven broke into a brief sprint, the long weapon hurdling through the air toward the scout. Quinn ducked it, as Riven spun and reversed her grip. The weapon formed a towering stone shield as she advanced aggressively behind it, exposing only her toes.

Another shot was fired, ineffective against the fast approaching stone wall as it bounced of with a clink. The gap was closed, the shield again turning to a sword as Riven twisted, converting the energy over her head into a ruthless downward swing. Valor streaked under her guard, talons armed at her face; at her eyes. The talons dug deep into the her forearm and hand as they came up to defend her face. Riven's fingers closed around Valors left leg, locking the two together as the assault failed. Quinn twisted, curling around the blade if just barely as Valor flapped wildly to get loose. Riven released him, her elbow colliding with Quinn's stomach as she ducked low into her slash. Quinn was lifted from her feet, the air leaving her lungs, she caught herself stumbling backward and raising her weapon. The very tip of Riven's sword struck the bowgun, tearing it from Quinn's hand and sending it clattering across the cobbles.

Valor streaked into Rivens line of sight. She spun her full weight into the sword, bring it circularly around body. One final blast of green exploded from its tip and sent the bird tumbling through the air over her head and into the center of the lane were he skidded to the ground. "Valor!" Quinn yelled, all reason was gone. Riven couldn't help but pause. She was like a mother defending a child; the fear that had plagued her eyes turning to anger. she curled her fingers and charged with a berserk scream, meeting Riven's amber gaze before catching a solid left hook with her jaw. Quinn was knocked onto her back, her head smacking against the stone hard enough for stars to flash across her vision. To tip of the blade pressed softly against her throat. The weapon was hardly sharp though a forceful thrust from the woman combined with all the weight would likely cause some very serious damage. She lay still in a surrendering position with a hateful look. As she stole a look at Valor Riven's expression slackened. The weapon was lowered to Quinn's chest before reverting to its broken form, the levitating fragments of stone dissolving into thin air in realization of what she'd done.

The message was clear, despite her saying nothing. The two just stared at each other for a moment. until A soft coo caught Quinn's attention, a birds shadow passing over her, the bowgun landed on her stomach with a thunk against her leather armor. Riven blinked before lunging for it but in this one case, Quinn proved faster, not because she was but because she was used to Valor interfering. the weapon discharged. Riven froze, her ability to breath removed as hot pain shot through her neck, she glanced down to see the blue fetching of the bolt, blood seeping down the metal shaft. She frowned and lowered her weapon to her side as if locked in thought before sinking to her knees and slumping backward. Quinn scrabbled to her feet to see the woman blinking up at the sky with a solemn grin in an expending red puddle.

"RIVEN HAS BEEN SLAIN!" the announcer boomed over the field, startling the now very jumpy scout.

"Hmm, good job. Don't worry, she'll be fine. I'm going to take you back now okay?" Quinn wasn't listening. She whistled with her good arm. Valor came to a hopping rest at her feet, flicking blood from his feathers before giving her a victorious nuzzle of his head. Quinn snuck a look at Riven and frowned.

"Crazy animal..." she muttered as blue runes wrote themselves at around her feet. She noted with shocked distaste the odd clicking sound her jaw had made when she had opened her mouth and decided not to say anything more. If Valor had eyebrows they would be raised in a massive smirk. He hopped into the ring and after a brief pause the world vanished as did the pain that was fortifying itself in her mind. After a few moments of stomach turning blackness her feet slammed into the floor of the summoning chamber and just like they had before they gave beneath her.

Riven stood against the wall, regarding Quinn silently as the scout glared at Valor whom had mockingly flicked his wingtip against her nose. She paused, briefly spotting Riven. The Exile could clearly remember the unnerving feeling of seeing an enemy she had just killed across from her and very much alive; smiling even. Werhan shoved himself into her vision, from the looks of it Kathrine did the same on Riven's side.

"Very good work!" he exclaimed with a clap of his hands. "a little rough around the edges but that will go with time." Quinn frowned.

"How is it that you are so disconnected about this, I just killed her; and I would hardly say I did it fairly." Quinn said cooly; killing people had never been something she had liked doing but it was a requirement of her job.

"What is death if no one actually dies?" Riven said softly from the other side of the room, her eyes boring a hole in Quinn's hard expression. When Quinn said nothing she went on. "It took me a long time to learn that. I still consider myself lost and meaningless sometimes but the people here; and even childish as they may be-" she paused, sneaking a look at Werhan. "-have lessons to offer and are doing great things for everybody."

"I would like to see a world in which children can grow old without ever seeing death inflicted by another human being." Kathrine said. "When I was growing up the last thing I thought I would be doing was mind controlling people to kill each other in the name of peace. But. What is death, if nothing is lost and only lessons are learned?" Riven looked at her and smiled solemnly. Quinn blinked. What a jarring change, a few moments ago she was a death machine. This place...

The door burst open with a thunk, drawing to it all the sets of eyes lingering in the room. Garen ducked his massive form through the doorway with resounding clunks from his armour. "CONGRATULATIONS!" he boomed with a stiff faced smile. Before Quinn could really react massive hammy arms wrapped around her body. Her back popped as she was lifted from her feet into a bone crushing hug. Werhan burst out laughing, Valor letting out a similar sound as Quinn's cheek was jammed against the breastplate. Riven took the opportunity as a distraction and slipped silently from the room. Garen abruptly dropped her, kneeling down as far as he could but still towering over Valor. "You are one brave bird. A brave bird of Demacia!" he complimented. Valor coo'd in a self absorbed manner before ruffling his wings and beginning to nip at his feathers.

"So what do I owe the appearance." Quinn said lazily.

"I actually needed to talk to the summoners about something rather important. Luxanna I am sure would be happy to see you after your victory and will likely... forcibly introduce you to a bunch of new people." he paused. "in the mess hall." Quinn nearly laughed, this was Garen attempting to be subtle, a strange creature misunderstood by science that only appears in the dead of night. Amused, she offered her arm to Valor, with a flap he perched himself and she strode from the room.

Garen stepped after her with a clunk, his gauntleted hand pulling the door shut to seal himself and the two summoners inside. There was a pause as he sighed, Garen's tell tale sign that he was about to be very serious. "Smooth" Werhan jabbed snarkily. Garen looked at him impassively.

"I have a request directly from the king. I know he holds no power over you and the summoners nor do I but he asked that the draft be something to truly test her." Garen said more softly then his normal pitch suggested he was capable of. The summoners looked at each other.

"We have already written it up, and I admit its rather.. tame. Would you like us to redo it?" Kathrine asked solemnly. Werhan glanced at the door nervously. Garen stiffened his lip before nodding. It was evident he was not enjoying what he was doing.

"The word the King used was... Brutal. He wants a ruthless and unforgiving test of her skills." Garen said solidly. "I'm-m sure you understand my position." he stammered hurriedly. Werhan blinked, surprised.

With a sigh Kathrine eyed Garen and smiled reassuringly. "I understand, I will present the draft to you when we are finished." she stood past him, towards the door. "Come along pudgy, we have work to do." Werhan scowled at her before following with a groan. The two marched until Garen was out of earshot.

"Well that was shady..." Werhan muttered.

Kathrine adjusted her glasses. "No kidding."


Quinn arrived to see the mess hall thriving. Noise buffeting herself and Valor as she slide into the hall. It was alive unlike it had been this morning. A hand slapped itself on her back, hard enough to make Quinn stumble forward and yelp. Valor squawked and nearly lost his balance on her arm guard as both turned there eyes to meet those of a pinked haired woman with a broad smile. A pair of goggles sat on her head, a common piltover fashion and she sported a kind of composite armor with a heavy mechanical rig across her back and shoulders, running down her arms that stopped at her elbows as if to support something heavy.

A hand extended into Quinn's face with a toothy grin. "Vi!" she introduced herself before balling her fist and pointing over her shoulder with her thumb and a jerk of her head. Her other hand fell to her hip. "And thats Cupcake! Err. Caitlyn!" Quinn blinked at the much more soft spoken woman in purple, whom tipped her hat to her with a smile. Valor eyed them both carefully as Quinn tilted her head. With a smirk.

"Cupcake?" she asked comically.

"Ahh its an old nickname, I baited my yordle snaptraps with cupcakes one day; more of joke then much else." Quinn nodded in amused understanding. The two woman looked at each other.

Quinn felt something pull at her sleeve, spotting a smile of impending doom from Caitlyn she turned to face the pair of bright blue eyes seven inches too short to meet hers. The small Ionian in the brown traveling cloak smirked at her, then at Valor before opening her mouth with an amused snicker to speak. "Nice recovery." Quinn scowled, wondering how everyone had seen her performance. The woman turned to Vi and Caitlyn.

"Caitlyn." she nodded in greeting before shifting her eyes to her left. "Six." she greeted Vi, who's eyes flashed.

"I swear to fucking god if you call me that one more time im going to pull your arms off and shove the-"

"Viii." Caitlyn coo'd "relax."

"Its okay, its my favorite number also." Celene teased. Vi looked as if she may attempt to strangle her as the Ionian turned around and trotted towards food. Quinn cleared her throat.

"Does she always do that?" she tentatively asked. Any information on the person that now sat on the top of Valor's most hated list was worth knowing about, just Encase.

"Yes." the Piltovers Finest said together. Vi groaned and slogged slowly towards food as well. Quinn shrugged and began to slowly follow her.

"Just give her a day or two and she'll figure out how to push your buttons..." Caitlyn muttered.

"Lux said she was a body snatcher." Quinn stated bluntly. Valor nipped at his wing as they reached the line.

"She is, though aside from that and her childish sense of humor she is a very respectable person." Caitlyn replied. Vi snorted.

"Oh please. What has she done that I haven't done?" Vi asked from in front of the pair.

"I don't know, has Ahri attempted to molest you yet?" Caitlyn replied snarkily.

"Actually that wouldn't fly either, Ahri has attempted that on me as well." Celene spoke up from a few places ahead of them in line. A few snickers from summoners rose from around them as the conversation provided the primary reason to come to the hall besides food. Caitlyn stared, stunned, her expression cracking into a broad smile.

"Did that-"

"No." Celene stated flatly. She paused before extending her hands over her head and motioning to Quinn's left with a flail. "Ahriii!" she called across the hall. There was a brief pause in sound as Quinn and Valor traced Celene's eyes to a woman sitting on the halls far side. An odd sight Quinn noted, nine fluffy tails waved around behind her, she sported a trimmed kimono and a pair of fox like ears atop her head. Her expression shifted upon realizing who was talking to her.

"Yesss~" she called back flirtatiously. Quinn cringed.

"have you been in Vi's pants yet?" Celene called back, sneaking a look at Vi's stunned face.

"Not yettt~"

Celene turned to the pink haired woman, hands on her hips. "I win." Vi Scowled.

"Slut." she said flatly, crossing her arms and looking dismissively at her.

A raise of the eyebrows from Celene. "Dyke." Vi bristled like a wet cat.

"Ladies." Caitlyn defused the one sided aggression.

"Remember Six, you're a counter pick to me so you'll get plenty of chances to break my face." Celene said jokingly.

Vi snarled, pointing to her cheek. "This is not a fucking Six! Its my fucking name you deaf body snatching cunt." she snapped. Celene's eyebrows advanced upward towards her hairline.

"That is a Freljordian number Six." Celene said flattly. Vi's eye twitched. Quinn decided a fight was not what she wanted to deal with.

"Speaking of Freljord, I actually have some interesting stories from there." she said, changing the subject. Celene's attention now fixated on her.

"Oh?" left both Celene and Caitlyn as the Ionian reached the head of the line. Celene turned from the line with her food; a loosely piled plate of uninteresting but assorted foods from around Noxus. A lot of fish.

"Well a lot of it is classified as it was a scouting mission but I can talk about some stuff." Caitlyn smiled at her, as did the body snatcher, even Vi managed a bored curl of the lips.

"That's fine, I'll know it all anyways when I snag you on the fields but go on." Celene said brightly, baring her teeth for a brief moment. Valor bristled on Quinn's arm. The scout shot him a look before pushing what she thought was a threat away.

"Well before I departed into the deeper more unforgiving parts of the province I had to spend a lot of time in an Avarosan camp in Southern Freljord. I actually ran into Ashe." Quinn began, idly petting Valor's head. he glared at the smiling body snatcher as they marched food in hand to a nearby table.

"Ahh. How is Ashe doing?" Caitlyn asked, smiling.

"Fine I suppose, she personally taught me a lot about surviving in the cold and even gave me a very nice pair of socks." Quinn said.

Vi plopped herself down in the first seat. "Sounds uneventful, get in any fights?"

"None that I can talk about." Quinn said curtly.

"Dammit."

"So how advanced are they now." Caitlyn asked softly, propping her feet up on the table.

"Last I heard they still haul water, Cupcake."

"Parts of Demacia still haul water. You're saying no house in Piltover is without running water?" Quinn crossed her arms at her chest with a skeptical look. Valor hoped to the table and took the opportunity to snag a piece of food from Celene's plate. She shrugged and smiled at him.

"Yep. There is not a house in Piltover that hauls water." Caitlyn said proudly.

Vi grinned bright, she had a gold tooth. "YEP! Industrialization of Innovation, the mass production of ideas is the way of the future and the city is a breathing example. Its also free of crime thanks to me and Cupcake; Hey! You should see my gauntlets!~"

"I'm actually surprised you haven't been there. Being a scout and all." Said Caitlyn. Celene looked down to see that Valor had completely dismantled her plate without her noticing. He sat smuggly in the middle of the table like a fat chicken, eyeing her.

Quinn shrugged. "Well as an army scout I'm sent to places I'm not allowed to go, I've been to Noxus more then once."

Celene found herself flicking crumbs at the birds head, lifting her eyes at the mention of Noxus. "Have you been to the Finest in the Fleet bar there? Its in the Ivory ward." Caitlyn and Vi both looked at her.

Quinn instantly lit up. "YES! I got to tail some smuggler guy in there a few years ago."

Celene mirrored her excitement. "Shady! You know how it has that large window across its whole front?"

"Yeah."

"I actually put Katarina through that window like nine years ago." Celene exclaimed. Caitlyn burst out laughing. More at Vi's reaction then Celene. Her palms slammed against the table top in stunned but interested disbelief.

"Bullshit... YOU have bar fighting stories!? You're like four feet tall." Vi grinned ear to ear. "I like you better already you malnourished psychopath!" Quinn snorted, knowing only of Katarina from briefings as a daughter of a general and more impotently a talented assassin.

"Well I don't know if it counts as a bar fight. She was entering the bar through the window not leaving it." Celene said, twiddling her fingers in the stubborn lock of hair that always hung between her eyes.

"That's actually better! Who started it? What happened?" Vi asked excitedly.

"I did, I wanted her body for my own so I followed her around for a little while before finally getting bored and introduced myself before whacking her in the forehead with a bucket." Vi grinned, pressing her fist into her palm as her interest was ignited.

"Wait nine years ago? You cant be more then twenty four." Quinn said sceptically. Vi's eyes narrowed.

"Lux didn't mention that I'm immortal?" Celene replied flatly. Quinn blinked as Caitlyn suppressed a snicker. First time I've heard that excuse.

"I actually have a report on that fight that I can show you later if you like Vi." Caitlyn spoke up, reinforcing Celene's position.

"You still haven't told me how you have that." Celene mused.

"Classified." Caitlyn smirked as her partner lit up.

"HI!~" Lux exclaimed loudly behind Quinn's head. She jumped, twisting in her chair to see the pair of crownguards standing behind them, food in hand. The two slammed themselves down at the table. There was a pause before Vi turned to Garen.

"Do you have any bar fight stories?" she asked. Garen stiffened in a manner that stated yes.

"As a citizen of honor I do not involve myself in such activities." Garen said flatly, Vi wilted slightly.

"I don't know if this counts for Garen but I remember this one time-" Lux began.

"Luxanna." Garen said flatly.

"- I actually hit Celene with a bar stole because-"

"LUXANNA."

"- she was drunk and-" Celene burst out laughing.

"LUXX." Garen half yelled half whined, Caitlyn and Vi held snickered, Lux herself was grinning as she put Garens ass into the fire.

"Was attempting to start a romantic relationship with him." she finished smugly. Garen slammed his face into the table, causing it to jump and nearly bouncing Valor into the air. Caitlyn and Vi exploded with laughter as Garen attempted retract into his armour like a turtle. He slowly straightened up, red faced.

A folder was slapped onto the table top, jarring the group from there amused laughter and up to the eyes of Summoner Kathrine. "Everything is ready." she looked at Garen with an expression that screamed, yes I heard everything and smiled. "Carry on."

He groaned and ran his armored hand through his hair before flicking the folder open. The table leaned in.


Familiarization and review of team composition and balance for: Quinn.

Arena: Summoners Rift.


Champions involved Purple team:

Vayne, the Nighthunter.

Position: Top lane

Pilot: Pending

Ahri, the Ninetailed Fox

Position: Middle lane

Pilot: High Summoner Marcus Tidemen Victory of Demacia assisting

Quinn -Title not available-

Position: Bottom lane, Offensive

Pilot: Pending.

Shaco, the Demon Jester

Position: Jungler

Pilot:Pending

Lulu, The Fae Sorceress

Postion: Bottom Lane, Support

Pilot: Summoner Kristina Francine Scott of Demacia


Champions Involved Blue Team:

Renekton, the Butcher of the Sands

Position: Top lane

Pilot: High Summoner Beyal Jyamison Sohrten of Noxus: to be summoned from containment.

Celene, Eternity's Wings

Position: Middle Lane

Pilot: Pending

Draven, The Glorious Executioner

Position: Bottom Lane, Offensive

Pilot: High Summoner Wales Smith Socrates of Piltover.

Nocturne the Eternal Nightmare

Position: Jungler

Pilot: Summoner Jura Thomas Skyfire of Zaun: To be summoned from containment.

Thresh, the Chain Warden

Position: Bottom lane, Support.

Pilot: Elder summoner Parrish Theo Valionant of Piltover.


Distribute copies for Champion Review. Thank you for assisting the League of Legends.

~Peace at Any Cost.


Lux blinked. "Wow.."

"Fuck everything about that..." Caitlyn muttered, grabbing the paper and reading over Blue teams roster again. Garen cringed. Quinn, blinked utterly lost.

"Sooo.." Quinn began.

"Allow me to sum it up for you." Vi began. "Renekton is a crazy giant lizard with a huge sharp thing, Thresh is a soul collecting dead warden that tortured his inmates for fun, nocturne is a literal nightmare in physical form that goes into your brain and messes with shit, Draven is a murderous idiot with the worlds smallest penis and Celene is that bitch right there." Vi pointed

"Ahh." Quinn's eyes fell on the one name she recognized.

Celene smirked back at her. "Ready or not.~" she muttered sadistically. "Or as the summoners say." she leaned on her elbows across the table, baring teeth in a massive excited smile. "Good luck, have fun." and with a flutter of blue light she was gone, leaving an awkward silence in her wake.

Kathrine squeaked, gripping the paper and pulling it eye level. "Beyal is back?!" she squealed excitedly.

Werhan cocked an eyebrow. "so he's done getting laid in Noxus? I know he took a leave but when did he-"

"Get back?" a voice from behind them. High summoner Beyal smiled brightly at them, sporting a haircut and civilian clothing with a backpack thrown over his shoulder. His smile vanished upon seeing the composition form. "Eww."

"yeah." Kathrine half laughed. Beyal looked at her flatly. "you monster, who's Quinn?" the contents of the table pointed. Beyal blinked.

"ADC?" he said, Quinn cocked an eyebrow, tilting her head.

"I think she may be a jungler actually." Werhan spoke up.

"Stop your shit." Beyal smiled at him.

"Hows Kat?" he asked.

"Ecstatic actually. I got dragged to Noxus and hardly spent any time with her because she spent it all with her father."

"So the city hasn't burned to the ground then. Does Swain still have his job?" Kathrine asked.

"Yes, amazingly. He seems to be able to walk again as well."

"So is this your.. groups final member?" Quinn asked. Beyal nodded and extended his hand.

"Nice to meet you. Jyamison Beyal." he introduced himself.

"Quinn" she motioned with her head. "And that's Valor. Now if you'll excuse me." Quinn regarded him with snooping eyes, thumbing the form. "Tell me... Everything you know about all of them." Beyal grinned.

Authors notes: When I was writing this I had a few goals. I wanted to make Quinn and Valor feel outclassed; the idea being when you go through a balancing match you have no augmentation to your ability, positive or negative. Quinn has been buffed a few times and is still kind of ehh while Riven has be nerfed MANY times and is still really good. Another goal was to do a better job with Vi. She got limited screen time in Sparks and was a little OOC during that but I never really went back and fixed it because it would require me to change the scene. This time I feel she's much more true to her character and is very amusing. Last but not least I was on a mission. Celene as a character so very challenging for a bunch of reasons though the main one is because she's inherently so bullshit overpowered. The hardest thing about her is keeping her funny and in character while still preserving how scary she is. My goal with her was to show her from outside her head. Every time Celene did something in Sparks the reader got to see her thought process. I want to see what she feels like as a character when you do, already I can see that she's much more creepy but still retains what makes her my favorite. You get to see this a little better in the next chapter as it involves a 5v5 league match.