A/N- So then, Chapter Six. As I said previously, the first five chapters were the first real arc, the introduction to the story...and now...now it gets interesting...now...now it actually starts. One down, many to go. So, here is a small question, since the first chapters are one of the story arcs, should I name them to the arc? Such as the first five chapters being called "Beginning I" and so on until this chapter where it will be "Arc 2 I" I feel like doing it for clarity, and I might, but, any suggestions on arc names? I don't want to call the first five chapter "Beginning", it sounds dull. Any suggestions would be appreciated, but, more than that, I hope you do enjoy reading this as much as I did writing it. Reviews are greatly appreciated. Thank you to all who have been leaving them, as well as have been following this story, it truly means a lot. Sorry for always writing these long author notes, I guess I am just really excited to be sharing this story with you. Without further delay, enjoy chapter six.

War Changes a Yordle

Chapter VI

The room was quiet, all for but the soft hum of the generator in the corner of the room, the static of electricity in the flickering bulb overhead, and the deep breathing coming from him. The red light on the camera was off. He stood up slowly, walking to the camera, replacing the tape with a new one. He knew this story was going to be long, and as such, he had prepared. It didn't matter, however. He had to do this.

The little red light came to life. He sighed, turning back to his seat before the camera. He halted, his eyes wandering over the many objects displayed around the room, stopping at one specific one. His first. His hardest. The one that defined him. The one moment that both of his worlds collided. They all wore masks, him most of all. How ironic, he thought it was, that he only ever felt like he was himself with the mask on. But even before Omega Squad, even before his new signature look, before he became the murderer that he was, he wore a different mask, and he was something far more heinous than whatever monster he had become. He was a soldier.

With a face as stoic as stone, he did what needed to be done. But all the while, he ran. There was the Scout and the Soldier…all Omega Squad did was give him a mirror. He saw what he was, both his sides came together, and he stopped being one or the other, he became what he was…a demon. And it all happened with…

He shook his head, looking away from the object, how haunting it was…how it swung so eerily…his first kill…his first real kill…not as a soldier, not as a scout, but as a person…he always hid behind his mask, always went cold, never thought about the deed after words, it was always someone else…although he committed such acts…it was never really…never really HIM…it was always the Soldier…always that side…that face…but never him…he was always innocent, he was the ideal yordle, called cute and smiled and laughed, always friendly, always sociable…it was…it was never him…

No…that's wrong…his words rang through his mind, still, after so long…"Nobody is innocent anymore," the words of the only honest man he had known…and it was true…no one was innocent. Not even the children.

He took his seat before the camera, his Omega Squad mask still on.

"After all of that…after we left the Institute…war ensued…the Institute fell…war…it never ends…the battlefield just changes…"

The Institute of War conspired with Noxus to help spark a war against Demacia. Their goal was to unite the people of Valoran, to show that the Institute is needed in order to end wars. To put themselves in the light. But, in truth, their real goal was to gather the most dangerous people in Valoran in one place for execution. The Institute of War…a slaughter house, all its champions nothing more than cattle, none the wiser as to what was happening. So why didn't they go about with their plan? He thought on this for a long time. They didn't have the full support of the people was one conclusion, but, a more obvious answer came to him in the form of rumors around Valoran. An ancient emperor has arisen from his tomb, ascended, a new void creature hunting traders in Shurima, a man of Freljord legend in the flesh, a creature incinerating all who come across it roaming the land of Valoran, more and more "Champions" came popping up as if from nowhere. They hadn't collected all of the dangerous, war changing beings out there yet. If they pulled the trigger too soon, then those out there would know of the League, they would rise up. They had to be patient, collect all the cattle before turning on the shredder.

He shook his head. All of them…all of this…he hated it all…it was not something he wanted…but only he could do it…as they told him…he was not the strongest, not the most powerful, but what he was…he was the deadliest.

But that didn't matter anymore. None were innocent. The Institute of War was destroyed, fallen by Demacia and its supporters, the League disbanded, all of the Champions returned to their factions, to their homes. Of course, there were those champions without homes to return to. They were offered positions, offered homes, as it were, but, it did come with a cost. A war was coming…a reckoning.

He cracked his knuckles, a slight chuckle escaping his lips from beneath the mask as he looked up to the camera.

"You'd be surprised how quick fur ignites."

Teemo sighed, folding the letter back up and placing it in his satchel. A letter from Poppy. Well, it wasn't like he didn't expect it, but, even still. He thanked the yordle behind the counter and left the postal office, only to be met with a cool spring breeze and the warmth of the sun. He couldn't help but to smile. Home.

He rushed down the main street of Bandle City towards the main plaza. It was there where he was to meet up with Tristana. Even from a distance, one could see the monolith that was the Mothership standing tall at the center of the city, a rocket, a symbol of the Yordle people. It was before this that the plaza lay, a fountain at its center and benches and trees along its perimeter. Yordle children ran around while their mothers sat patiently to the sides. Sitting at one of these benches was the white haired yordle that he was looking for, but, apparently, there were two others with her.

He could immediately tell who one of them was. She wasn't hard to pick out amongst the Yordles, what with her not being a Yordle. She was once called the Dark Child. Having no home to return to, Tristana took the little red headed child in and she came to Bandle, away from the war, away from the factions that would use her as an instrument of war. It wasn't until the other turned that he would see that it was Rumble. He was fine with Annie, although, with Rumble, not much. He approached nonetheless.

When Rumble saw Teemo approach, he gave an annoyed tick, only to be met with the playful slap of the Yordle he admired. "Oh, knock it off, you. What's your problem with Teemo, anyway?"

"Nothing," he grumbled, standing and walking towards the mid fountain, his hands in his pockets.

She followed him with her eyes, as did the Scout. "What's his deal," he finally voiced.

"No idea. Thought you'd be able to tell me," she laughed, turning to Teemo. Their eyes met, a smile on both of their faces. "Oh!" She turned quickly to Annie. "Why don't you go play with Rumble for a little while we talk?"

The redhead only pouted. "I don't wanna! He's a meanie!"

Teemo stifled a laughter, earning a slight glare from Tristana. "Please?" she asked the child, who only sighed before making her way to the Yordle sitting at the fountain. Well, at least now he wouldn't have to feel Rumble glaring at him the entire time with Tristana, Teemo thought to himself. Tristana gave a hefty sigh herself. "I didn't think it'd be THIS hard to raise a child."

Teemo could only chuckle as he took his seat beside her. "So, why DOES he hate you?"

"Oh, he doesn't hate me. I guess you can say he sees me more as…a rival, I guess."

"A rival? Over what?"

"You, I suppose. Everyone knows he has had a thing for you for the longest time, even you. He only ever started acting that way towards me after the Journal of Justice wrote about our nonexistent relationship."

She groaned. The Journal of Justice. For a while now it had been discontinued, stopped around the time they all left the League, but an article they published about her and Teemo still left a bad taste in her mouth. Can't a guy and girl be close friends without such nonsense? The two looked at the fountain, at Rumble and Annie. He looked annoyed, but, she knew it wasn't because of the child before him, but rather, the Yordle sitting beside her. He was sweet, but, she saw him only as a friend. "Still," she replied, "that doesn't mean you can't hate your rival."

She gave him a weak smile. Can you hate your rival? For a while, hatred was all Teemo held for his own rival, for the dark mage known as Veigar, the self-proclaimed Master of Evil. But, now, he realized, one can never truly hate a rival. After all…a rival…a rival is someone you look in the eye, someone you may not agree with, but someone you respect all the same. Veigar taught him that. And, well, the truth was, he didn't hate Veigar. Turning from the fountain to Tristana, he could only reply with a weak smile of his own. After all, he didn't hate Rumble at all.

She chuckled, turning away shyly. "Well, if I DID choose…I think it'd be you…"she whispered, giving off a light blush, her smile warm. In turn, he also smiled with the same kind of warmth. It was not that they didn't like each other, just…it wouldn't work. They both knew it. What Teemo was…he had much to work on before he could be with anyone. Maybe soon, however, now that the fighting had stopped. Maybe…maybe once he calmed down, take a step back from his duties, from being a scout of the Mothership. But for now, no. He shook his head, trying to find a way to

He remembered something. Teemo reached into his bag, his rummaging catching his friend's attention. He produced a letter, handing it to her. Her ears twitched questioningly as she opened it. "It seems," he spoke, her eyes scanning the words on the paper, "Poppy won't be returning. She has decided to join Demacia in its fight against Noxus." A frown was present on Tristana's face. Another friend gone, he thought. Bandle was a neutral city-state, it took no part in any war, even if they were allies, if they were on good terms, if they were trade partners, they would not fight for them. The 'army' that Bandle had was nothing more than three small organizations dedicated to the protection of the city. They were not a war driven people, Yordles.

Now that the fighting had stopped…he almost scoffed at it. The fighting hadn't stopped, it never had, even with the Institute. He knew from experience, the war in the shadows. No, they merely took a step back, they merely left. Bandle was peaceful, but, all around them, Valoran was at war. Swain rose to power, becoming Grand General of Noxus, and Jarvan IV became King after his father passed. And like that, the two great city-states went to war. And, Poppy, their fellow Yordle, decided to join that war, to join Demacia.

"First Heimerdinger, then Ziggs, and now…Poppy…" Tristana looked to Teemo, tears threatening to fall from her eyes as she gave him a hurt smile. "Why does it feel like…like we're losing them, I wonder…"

"We are losing them." His eyes dulled over. "In war…you lose even your friends…it is their choice."

She leaned against him, burying her face into his shoulder. "I don't like it, Teemo…I don't like it…why couldn't they come back with us…why couldn't they come home…"

"Because Bandle is no longer their home."

She pushed away from him. "No, Bandle is always their home! Bandle is home for every Yordle! You said so yourself!" HE closed his eyes, remembering his words. Remembered who he had said them for. Many champions were without a home. Annie was not the only champion to join the Yordles in Bandle, and although he himself was a Yordle, it was clear that he was an outcast, that Bandle would never accept him. And yet, maybe out of respect, Teemo stood up for him…stood up for Veigar…and now, Veigar stayed with the Scout in his home on the outskirts of Bandle. He nodded to the teary eyes Yordle before him.

"It will always be their home…but…this is their choice…they have chosen a new home."

Tristana looked down. She knew he was right, but…she just didn't want to accept it. How gung-how she once was for war, how 'fun' she thought it would be. How brave she thought she was, how excited she was to write heroic war-stories…but after Teemo's outburst, if you could call it that…after she saw a side of him that he often kept secret…the part of him that prevented them from becoming more than friends…her views had changed. The Institute fell after the War of Kalamanda. They were now in an era of Warring Kingdoms. Poppy, Heimerdinger, Ziggs…all off to their new homes…off to be included in someone else's war…in truth, Tristana was scared. Scared of war…she didn't want to have to fight…not anymore…she didn't want to be a hero, she just wanted to live peacefully. She didn't want war anymore…

Maybe that's why she took Annie in, to protect her from the horrors of the world. After all…she was just a child…an innocent child…

Both their eyes shot open as they heard it…as they heard the screaming. They jumped to their feet immediately, and as she turned to face the direction of the blood curdling noise, all the breath left her lungs, her legs became weak, her eyes opened wide in horror as her entire body trembled in fear. "Ru…ru…RUMBLE!"

Rumble stood, his entire body engulfed in flames, his mouth open in a wide O, shrieks of intense agony never ceasing. He fell to his knees, fighting with all his strength to lift himself into the fountain, collapsing into it with a splash.

Tristana was off, running as fast as she could on her unsteady legs, unable to so much as walk straight, let alone see straight through the river of tears pouring from her eyes. Teemo stood, unable to move. He saw a child, a human child, hair as red as fire. He saw her smile.

Nobody was innocent anymore. Not even the children.