Oh jeez... Chapter 5 was long! Now for a night in Demacia as a halfling!

Chapter 6: A crazy night in Demacia part 1

Zero was taken back as Ezreal was attending tonight, "W-well I didn't either... Riven suggested we have another date, she then remembered about the ball so we got all dressed up as fast as we could." He made a sufficient lie on the spot and Ezreal nodded his head. "I say you two clean up very nicely, but Zero what is with the color scheme?" Zero then had a very irritated look on his face and walked up to him then pulled his head away from the women. "You don't fucking remember what I told you a couple years ago?!" He whispered to Ezreal then he tried his best to remember what Zero told him. "Sorry pal, all these years were very eventful so I kinda forgot. Jog my memory Zero." With a sigh pointed at the royal palace then to Riven. "What factions were my parents were formally apart of? Riven and the palace are the best hints jackass!" He whispered angrily then Ezreal began to slowly piece everything together.

"OH FUCK! RIGHT! You're half Demacian and half Noxian! That explains the color scheme! Who picked out your clothes? I highly doubt you would do this!" He responded softly then Zero turned back around to Riven and Lux as they were complimenting their clothes. "Like oh my god Riven you're dress is sooo beautiful! Where did you get it?!" Ezreal turned around as well just in time for Riven to respond with. "Me and Zero here got these from Syndra and Zed! Well... They are loaning these to us for the night and kinda marketing their designs. But Lux! You still look so good in your Elementalist outfit! Though... You gonna use the other elements tonight?" Riven asked her, though the guys were just watching them talk to each other. But Zero had motioned his hand up slightly towards Riven. "There's your answer buddy." Ezreal nodded then saw a crowd of people starting to walk to the palace.

"Hey Lux, Riven! Talk as we walk or we are gonna be stuck in a sea of people!" The girl's turned to Ez and Zero then noticed the people walking past them. "Oh shit... Yeah, let's walk and talk Lux!" The guys lead and the girls followed closely behind them. "So do you know why the Demacian royal family is having the event Ez?" Zero asked but he responded with a shrug, "Beats me Zee, Lux is the one that follows that stuff. She is part of one of the strongest noble families. Though... Honestly can you hear them? They are going crazy about their outfits." Zero slightly turned his head a bit, "Riven though I would like to use the other elements to have a much better outfit. My personality changes when I do it, sooo things are going to get crazy if I even try to." Riven had an "Ohhhhh! Right!" Expression on her face, "Yeah, don't want that to happen. You could possibly cause a crazy scene! Especially if you used the dark element!"

Zero just turned back forward as they kept ascending the steps up to the palace, the guys grabbed their girl's hand then began to weave through the crowd as a group to get to the front of the crowd. The girl's kept talking about more stuff and the guys already lost track as they went from clothes to make up then to all the other things girl's love to talk about. "Geez... I never thought Riven could talk for so long!" Zero looked to Ezreal as they were closer to the front. "No bro, it's Lux that is causing this. She loves to talk, like really loves to talk. One night she spent about 4 hours of straight talking with me! I swear I was falling asleep that afternoon. When she finally stopped talking it was dinner time. I saw you and Riven at Rengar's cafe last night, mind telling what happened?" Ez asked as they were now stuck in a line to get in and they were still pretty far back even after weaving through the crowd.

"Well... We had a good time, though someone from Piltover spilled the beans about my family name..." Ezreal then had a very unamused expression, "Lemme guess, it was Vi?" Zero then raised his eyebrows to confirm. "Ya think?! I have heard the stories that she was a knucklehead like literally a knucklehead. But I didn't think it was that bad!" Riven and Lux were kinda talking about the same thing but it had started with how she met Zero. Ezreal though chuckled when Zero responded, "It could be worse Zee, like someone from Noxus found out who you were." Zero then shot a very angry stare at Ezreal, his eyes widened as they kept moving along with the and were about halfway there. "Wait... You're serious?! Who was it?!"

Zero let out a sigh then leaned closer to Ezreal, "The grand general himself." Softly whispering to him and his jaw dropped like how he usually stared at Ahri before Lux slaps him. "Then what happened?!" Zero then looked back to Riven for a moment to see her and Lux laughing about more random stories. "He dropped the assassination contracts for my family but in return I have to marry Riven. That would be the only way for my parents to come towards the institute, then use them as bait for the Demacians." Zero did his best to whisper as quietly as he can. Then Ez was appalled at what he and Riven were roped into, "You just got to the institute yesterday! How the hell?!" Zero wore an expression that literally read, "Did you forget about my parents already?" Ez then turned forward and held his head up a bit. "Right... Totally forgot. You already have a big enough target as it is." By now they had reached the front of the line and many royal guards were standing at the door. One of the guards then stopped Zero and Riven, "You two, this a Demacian ball. You two shouldn't be here!" Lux then waved her hand at the guard. "They are with me, Luxanna Crownguard. If you got a problem I can always take it up to General Garen." The guard then looked at Lux and motioned them to go on through with great haste. "M-my apologies madam Luxanna! I didn't know they were with you! Please enjoy the ball!" The guard needed to stay in this position for some reason but the four didn't give two shits about it. All of them are the same anyway.

"Phew... Thanks Lux, you saved our butts back there." Riven thanked Lux as they made their way into the palace and towards the ballroom. "No problem Riv! I thought it was going to be a bit boring with Ezreal tonight. But good thing you two showed up! We all can hang out together!" Lux had a bright smile on her face, Riven responded with a calm smile. But remembered why they were here and it was to have her and Zero become targets for the plan to set in motion. Especially with Zero being the main focus of this plan to work. "Riv? You okay?" Lux's question snapped her out of her thoughts and she waved her free hand at her. "Yeah! I'm fine!" She responded as the four arrived to the ballroom and it was massive! Zero thought the institute's building was big this room puts it to shame, but he snapped out of his daze as Ezreal tapped his shoulder. "Come on we are going this way, according to Lux the neutral factions hang out over there." Ezreal then pointed to the west side of the room and spotted some Piltovians and some Ionians.

"Alright Ez lead the way." Ezreal and Lux walked towards the west side of the hall, Zero followed and Riven as well while they all heard the music playing. It was very smooth jazz as some people had already started dancing on the floor. "So Zero, Riven told me that you two happened to be roommates and are already dating. You work fast don't you?" Lux asked and he turned back to Riven as she had a smug look on her face, "Y-yeah my luck right?" He responded as he turned back to Lux. "Riven said it was coincidence that this all happened, but I think fate had something in store you two." Ezreal then stopped as they finally reached the spacious west side and they all had some breathing room to stand a bit further apart. "You could say that Lux." Ezreal saw there was an open table, then motioned everyone. "Yo guys! There is a free table over here!" He began walking towards it and the rest followed behind, "Don't worry your two's secret with that general is safe with me." Zero's eyes widened then turned to Riven as they all got to the table and sat down. She had an apologetic look on her face but he as well had one after a couple of seconds after, "Yeah... I told Ez as well." Ironically the guys were seated on one side and the girls were on the other side for this medium sized table.

A waiter came by the table and placed cups of water for them and some appetizers, "How is your evening ladies and gentlemen?" The waiter asked while Ez was looking at his hex-watch and it read 6:37 pm, "We're doing fine, thanks for asking sir." Lux answered for everyone then the waiter turned to her. "Ahhh! Miss Crowngaurd! Welcome, why aren't you with your fellow Demacians tonight?" She waved her hand towards the group for her response. "I'm with my boyfriend Ezreal, his friend Zero and his girlfriend Riven. They are all part of the neutral factions in the league so I suggested we stay over here." The waiter nodded then bowed, "Well I hope you all have a great time tonight and please dig in to the appetizers!" The waiter then left and everyone grabbed a piece then continued to converse with each other, all having laughs and embarrassing stories about Ezreal and Zero back in Piltover. Mostly when they were being bullied back in school and going of on adventures after class before Ezreal left to behind his exploring career.

All of a sudden the lights went out then a spotlight turned on towards the entrance and people were parted away by more of the royal guard. Soon after the band began playing a royal bugle as Jarvan III and Jarvan IV stood at the entrance with a Xin Zhao and Garen following behind. All of them were in their dress clothing, "Great douchebag king and douchebag prince have finally showed up." Lux turned to Ezreal as he made his comment. "Ez! Shush! I know you don't like them but you gotta deal with them!" Ezreal sighed at Lux scolding her, "Sorry, I just hate how they act all high and mighty with their pure bloodline and stuff." This time Lux sighed and had to agree that the royal bloodline's attitude. "I can't disagree with you there, but behave." Riven and Zero were barely listening to Ezreal and Lux as they were too focused on the Jarvan's both the king and the prince. Riven reached her hand towards Zero's that was near the middle of the table, her fingers brushed up against his and Zero reached for her hand to hold it. "That's them, how do we get their attention?" Riven said as the Jarvan's and the two Demacian champion's acting as the guard made it to the center of the room. "I'll think of something, right now just stay calm Riv." Zero responded as the music stopped and King Jarvan was handed a mic.

"Welcome everyone to our ball! I hope you are all enjoying the festivities as well as the food! But tonight is a joyous occasion! My son, Prince Jarvan IV has confirmed that we will be making an advance in the war against Noxus soon! Our forces will meet those demons on the battlefield then defeat them in the name of Demacia! Please enjoy this wonderous night and enjoy yourselves!" The king then handed the mic back to the attendant and began walking towards the throne as did the Jarvan IV with his two generals. Zero then tighten his grip on Riven's hand a slight bit, "Not if we have something to do about it..." The light's came back on as the two Crownguards and their guards got to the throne. Jarvan IV sat to the right of Jarvan III, Garen and Xin Zhao with were to his left. The people in attendance all around the room began to flow into the dance floor as the music started again but this time it was meant waltzing. Ezreal and Lux were watching the announcement but as it ended and everyone began to flow to the dance floor, they noticed Riven and Zero were holding hands. Not in a cute way but in a protective way for each other, Ezreal then got up. "Zee, I am gonna get us some more drinks. You three stay here for now." Ezreal left the table and made his way towards the food table, leaving the three at the table for now.

Multiple people passed their table and glanced at Riven and Zero they took note of their clothes and the colors. Some of them made some confused looks as to why people who were affiliated with those colors would be here, especially Riven. Lux wasn't liking this uncomfortable silence, she stood up and kneeled between the two. "What's wrong guys?" She asked them calmly as she felt she was treading on ice. "I am thinking of a way of trying to get them to notice us." Zero responded as he turned to Lux, Riven was staring at Zero. "Just go dance! Stop being such zombies! This is a ball at least have some fun you two!" She stood up and had a smile on her face then reached for their hands to pull them off their chairs. The two stood up as Ezreal had returned from getting drinks, he had heard Lux suggest them to go dance. "Zee go for it! Me and Lux will watch the table! Also I gotten us some soda and some alcohol if you guys want to drink some." Zero and Riven were pushed together then towards the dance floor by Lux. "Wha?! Lux?!" Riven yelled as they were pushed, Zero was getting nervous... He wasn't the best at dancing formally but he can try. "EZ! I AM GOING TO NEED THAT ALCOHOL LATER!"

The sea of people that were leading up to the dance floor was slowly dispersing as most of them were getting tired from dancing and were starting to get hungry, more and more left as they went to sate their hunger. The dance floor was nearly empty with a handful of couples were still dancing to the music. On the throne however prince Jarvan IV saw the blood red and black dress of Riven, then the mixed color scheme of blue-white-gold with black-red outfit of Zero took his attention. "Garen. That woman in the dress... That would be Riven am I not wrong?" Garen turned his head to Jarvan IV for a moment then stared at the dance floor and nodded. "Yes milord, that is Riven an ex-Noxian." His expression was bland until he looked at Zero as the two got into a waltz dance form and were going slow with the music. "That man though... His clothes colors. They seem contradicting..." Jarvan IV said aloud and his father heard him then looked at Zero as well.

Though in Zero's and Riven's perspective they were having a fun time dancing together. "Zero-hoho! You got two left feet when it comes to waltzing!" Riven was smiling and laughing to how bad he was with waltzing. "I-I can't help it okay?! I get very nervous dancing like this! Especially since it's in a formal place and everyone is watching us!" He responded as he did his best to keep the lead. "Don't worry about it Zero! You're doing your best, and I like it that you're trying." The two continued to waltz happily. Back up at the throne though Jarvan III leaned forward a slight bit. "My son, do you not notice the theme of his clothes? His outfit is representing something that happened many years ago, you remember that one woman from the Lugh-guardia family my son?" He asked Jarvan IV, he then nodded to his father. "Yes, the one that deserted all of Demacia for a demonic Noxian man right father?" Garen and Xin got ready to move to the back to steel themselves but the king raised his hand to stop them. "No get me an old report about that woman and the people she was with when she was escaping with that Noxian from back then. We need to confirm that this young man could be someone we could use." Xin Zhao bowed then left through the back and to go collect the report about Cyaht Lugh-guardia from those many years ago. "Once he returns with a report and we can confirm something then proceed to capture that young man." The king said and Jarvan IV along with Garen were getting into their battle mindsets while waiting for Xin.

On the dance floor however the waltzing music finished then the light's changed from a normal setting, then it began changing multiple colors. One of the people on the mic cleared his throat, "Everyone! I hope you all enjoyed the slow dancing! But now let's pick up the pace! Welcome Sona in her DJ outfit!" Soon enough Sona began floating down from the top of the room and stopped above the dance floor with her hex-tech etwahl turn table, she began playing a track with a fast beat. Zero and Riven had stopped when the waltzing music stopped but then she saw Zero's face brighten up as he heard Sona's DJ music. "So you like this kind of music huh?" She asked with a smile as she saw him starting to dance with the music. Zero turned to Riven and held her hands in a more joyish style, "Are you kidding me? When Sona dropped her new music all those years ago I loved it!" The two began to dance some sort of wildly yet in a formal setting. Ezreal and Lux heard the change of music then looked over to the dance floor and saw their friends dancing. "Yeah! That's it Zee!" Ezreal cheered and then Lux cheered right after. "OHHHH! Get down Riv!"

Xin had return with the report after a couple minutes of Sona's set has started then hand it to the king, he began reading through the observations made by the surviving assassins during that chase. "The woman was Cyaht Lugh-guardia and the man was Byrar Vajardin of Noxus that were spotted during the flee from Demacian villages outside the main city, a few Noxian assassins were in the chase as well. Cyaht and Byrar were noted to be protecting two children, a daughter that had blonde hair with brown eyes with pale skin and a son that had silver hair with dark red eyes with tanned skin." The king read the report aloud to Jarvan IV, Garen and Xin Zhao. The four of them looked at Zero and noticed that he matched the son stated in the report. "Get. Me. That. Young. Man." He ordered as Jarvan IV and the generals steeled themselves with their iconic weapons and began to descend onto the dance floor.

The couple were enjoying the time dancing to Sona's music, but Riven had looked over to the throne and noticed Jarvan, Garen and Xin were walking their way with their weapons. She stopped in her tracks and so did Zero as he was confused to why she stopped but then looked to where she was looking. "Zero, I think we got their attention now." Riven said loud enough over the music then he nodded as he began to undo his collar shirt and took it off along with his blazer. Then handed it to Riven, "Get back to Lux and Ezreal, I'll take them on." The people that were watching everyone dance to Sona's music some of them looked over to see Zero take off some of his clothes then handing it to Riven. Riven looked at Zero with worry in her eyes, "Zero... Are you sure about taking them on?" She asked but his resolve to a fight was showing in his dark red eyes like a burning inferno. "Yes I am, I'll do my best to hold them off. Tell Ez and Lux to get ready to help us leave just in case things go south." Zero leaned down to Riven and kissed her, she was taken back but she kissed back then pulled away then ran to Ezreal and Lux. Zero then turned to the trio of Demacians walking towards him, "Rengar... I love-hate this plan. But at least I get to fight some Demacian bastards."

Riven ran to Ez and Lux the best she could in heels but stopped mid-way to take them off then ran at full speed to them. Lux and Ezreal were stunned at the moment Riven had returned with some of the clothes Zero was wearing tonight. "Guys! The plan is set into motion! We are gonna need to be ready to help Zero if things go bad!" Lux stood up and ran up to her. "What the hell do you mean?!" Ezreal stood up as well but in surprise, "Lux! Your brother and those douchebags are heading straight for Zero!" Lux then turned toward the throne and saw the three walking to Zero with their weapons in hand. "Ezreal! Summon your gauntlet!" She then waved her hand and her wand appeared. Ezreal gripped his left hand and his magic gauntlet appeared in it's debonair style. "I have enough mana for a long range arcane shift for all of us!" Ezreal yelled out as people were running away from the dance floor and towards the entrance of palace.

Zero walked towards them and shrugged his shoulders while opening his palm to summon his weapons. The other people dancing around them notice the flash of arcane magic as Zero steeled himself, and getting into a battle stance. Since most of these people attending were of nobility and not many warriors began running at the sight of Zero and his weapons. "YOU! LAY DOWN YOUR WEAPONS AND COME WITH US QUIETLY!" Jarvan IV yelled as the people were dispersing. "FUCK. OFF! I HAD TO DEAL WITH An IONIAN LONER EARLIER TODAY! NOW I GOTTA DEAL WITH YOUR POMPOUS ASS!" Zero yelled as his sword started to glow with a dark red aura.

Time for some action! I hope you liked the build up to start the second part of this crazy night! Till chapter 6!

ごきげんよう!

ーEmperorZafkiel