A/N- Hello everyone and welcome to a new chapter of War Changes a Yordle. IT's been a while, and, here is why. I moved. Been busy, and, before the move, I DID still write, only, I wrote other short League stories. I got reviews asking if this story was dead or where was the next chapter. I am sorry for that, but, I also write other stories you might enjoy, so, maybe check them out and follor to be notified of ALL my other League stories, not just this one. But I digress. Right now, you are here for War. Well, I hope I delivered. I finally got settled in to my new place and I hope to be able to write in the future. Other than this story, I am thinking of a Bilgewater story, so, if you are interested...stay tuned...also, maybe some original stories on my FictionPress account. But, I've distracted you long enough. Enjoy the tenth chapter of War Changes a Yordle, and as always, reviews are much appreciated. Enjoy, and, take care.
War Changes a Yordle
Chapter X
He bowed, sitting on his knees before her.
"Thank you for meeting me on such short notice, Eye of Twilight. I am sorry for having called upon you, however-"
"There is no need to apologize, Duchess Karma." Shen's voice was deep and serious. He was not one for emotion, and it showed clear in his voice. It was who he was, a dispassionate man, willing to do anything, all for the sake of balance. He needed no emotion to pass judgement. He was without prejudice. All this, just in his voice. The resolve of a single man. He continued. "The clan may be gone, however, the order lives. The Kinkou are yours to command, should the order be just."
"I must thank you, Shen…I've received grave news…Indeed, I am in need of your order's assistance…but before that, I must apologize." Karma, who sat upon a crimson cushion, bowed before the ninja in blue. "I deeply regret not having been able to aid you when you needed me most."
There was a pause. He took his time to think about his response. "The Order of Shadows is truly formidable. Our order stood little chance. However, although you may be the Duchess of Ionia, the conflict was not one you could have interfered in, even if you had wanted to."
Karma gave a sigh. So, that is his form of accepting? A simple 'It's fine' would have sufficed, although, she should not have expected as much from him. Although…
"The conflict between your clan and the Master of Shadow's…it is personal, is it not?"
"No." he answered immediately, his voice colder than his usual tone, his voice more stern. "I've no personal feeling towards Zed. I am the head of the Kinkou, I care only for balance in this world, not revenge."
"So you say, Eyes of Twilight…however…it is not the Order of Shadow that leads me to call you here…" she looked upon his still bowing form to see if he had any reaction. But his body remained strong, doing nothing to betray him or his conviction. But still, Karma's brow furrowed. She was suspicious. She continued, seeing that he would not ask her about Zed and his order. He would instead listen, listen to what she had to say, the reason he was called upon, and so, he would pass judgement. "I've received a letter from Bandle City. There, they homed the Dark Child, Annie, for she had no faction nor home with which to return to following the fall of the Institute. She has since died."
She stopped her explanation, watching him for any movement, but still he remained motionless.
"The killer is a fellow champion. The Swift Scout, Teemo. After her murder, he fled. Bandle has realized the danger that he may possess, and so, warning has been sent out to all major nations and the champions there. A Champion Killer, as it were. I'll have you investigate, along with your order, should you be able to."
"Yes. Such crimes shall not go unpunished."
"That is all, Eye of Twilight."
He stood, and for the first time since they met, she looked into his burning yellow eyes. Those eyes of his, the eyes that would see no despair, no suffering, only equilibrium. The true Eyes of Twilight.
"I am concerned for you," she said.
"And why is that, Duchess?"
"I sense that you have lost something, Shen…you have lost what once made you enlightened…:
"Do you question my resolve?"
"Whether I do or not does not matter. However, what matters is if you believe in your resolve? Do you?"
Shen bowed. "I shall take my leave Duchess." And like that, he disappeared into the shadows of the room.
"I wish you find your path, Shen…"
They traveled beneath the cover of night. The sound of rain muffled their footsteps, the clouds blocked the many stars that would illuminate the earth. The three were swift, with not a single word exchanged between them. They knew their mission, they knew what had to be done, and so, no words were needed. Communication was important to any team, however, the three were absolute, binded by a cause, an order, they were one. Their leader in blue ran point, the ninjas in purple and green ran behind him at either side.
After three months of investigation they had found where their target, the champion killer, was located. He hid where most hid. Where exiles, refugees, and all manner of wanted men went to start anew, where they went to find…enlightenment…peace…their very home, Ionia. Starting from Bandle, they were tracking a specter, tracking one that left no trace. All they had to go off of was the destruction of the Kumungu Forest. The aerial squad of Bandle City bombarded an area of the jungle, having seen smoke rise from what they had assumed to be a campfire. And they were right to assume so. Few champions, let alone average people, be they warriors or mages or just common smallfolk, could survive the ruthless conditions of the jungle and those that inhabit it. The fire was indeed made by the Swift Scout, however, it was meant for another.
Bombs fell upon the jungle, hitting their target. The target, however, was not Teemo, but rather, HIS target. Zyra, The Rise of Thorns, burned before meeting her end by the bombs that rained upon her. She and her conglomeration of Stranglethorns were no more but a crater in the center of the jungle. However, not only did the Kinkou ninjas discover the death of one champion, but two more as well. They discovered the remains, or more precisely, the remnants of the Pride Stalker and the Beastial Huntress, their bodies having been ravaged by the denizens of the jungle until little and less actually 'remained.'
They searched for a lead, finally finding one at a port city. A yordle looking to for ferry to Ionia. They rushed home, back to Ionia. They asked questions, all the while keeping low. They obtained info of a yordle dressed in military garb having traveled inland. They found his tracks, and so, they pursued him relentlessly. His trail had led to a temple in the mountains. The monks there told Shen and his order of a troubled soul, looking for redemption, like so many others who came to Ionia. They turned him away. Solitude for a yordle was a terrible thing, with some displaying madness at the loneliness. However, the monks had told him that for him to find enlightenment, he must first face his demons. Should he fall victim to madness, then it is because his will was weak, because he was not strong enough against his enemy, against his demons, against himself.
And so, off the Swift Scout had gone…off to solitude…to some place far away, some place no one would go to bother him…the mountain where a great war once occurred, the same mountain named for the celestial being that had appeared before man for the first time…Bard Mountain.
And so, they ran. In the midst of night, beneath the downpour of rain, they made their way swiftly to the Champion Killer's location, seeking to deal justice. No action is without its consequence, and thus, there would be balance.
They raced up the spire. The clouds that rained above them darkened the sky. A bad omen. The mountain was named after Bard, the Wandering Caretaker, known to be a being of celestial origin, and yet, above, the heavens were not to be seen. By the time they made it to the top of the mountain, the rain had stopped.
Long ago, there was once a shrine that adorned the mountain's peak, and at its center, a pedestal wherein an ancient and magical item would be placed. The villagers at the foot of this mountain rushed to the top of the mountain during the Noxian invasion. In the village elder's hands, he carried the item, an orb. He and the rest of the village believed that to place it in the spire's pedestal, they could call forth great cosmic powers, that they could use it as their weapon to drive back the invasion. Many believed that doing so would call forth a legendary beast known as Ao Shin. However, doing so would not be without its consequences. Bard halted their hopes, taking both the shrine and the orb somewhere far away, out of this realm. And because of it, they all lived to see another day.
It is said that Bard would only appear in times of dire situation, not for the world, but for the cosmos. He is a being of neither this realm nor any other, he is a vagabond that travels through all worlds, that travels through the cosmos, and, only does he appear when events occur that could have larger cosmic significance. Where the Kinkou bring balance to Runeterra, Bard brings balance to the cosmos. However, in all other circumstances, he is merely a watcher. And yet…
And yet…why were there lights dancing atop the mountain?
The top of the spire was flat, save for a tent located at its center, but all around, small beings of light seemed to dance joyously, swirling through the sky. The Kinkou were stunned, save for Shen. The name of Bard was a story, based down through generations, and it was long ago when anyone had seen his form. And yet, here, where their target resided, the beings that usually followed Bard now flocked.
"I would ask why you are here, but, I'm afraid I already know." Shifting out of stealth, the Champion Killer emerged, and as he did, many of the meeps swarmed around him. "I don't suppose you'd like to talk first before we do this?"
Shen stood straight and tall, pressing his hands together in jutsu as he spoke. "Target marked! Deliver swift justice!"
He stood on support, channeling, as the other two Kinkou ninjas took off quickly. Teemo sighed, an action Shen noticed all too late.
Kennen summoned his energy, bursting into a ball of electricity as he speed straight for the Scout, however, that was his mistake, and, Teemo's plan. Atop the spire, the ground was flat, and as such, there was little and less ways to approach Teemo, so, preparing for the day that someone might find him, Teemo had prepared thoroughly.
Kennen was launched into the air, a mushroom having exploded beneath his feet. "Kennen!" Akali cried out as his body flew off the side of the mountain.
"Akali! Stop!" Akali stood still, looking back to her leader. There was something wrong. So very, very wrong. Shen kept a level head. From the explosion, Shen could tell the mushroom Teemo used was much stronger than what he used to use on the Fields of Justice. He watched as the yordle loaded a dart into his blowgun.
Akali took note of this as well, throwing down a smokescreen to obscure herself, making her harder to hit. The way forward was too dangerous, but with no cover, she was just as dead. But as Shen stood waiting for her to return to his side, Teemo sighed once more. There was something wrong…
Shen cast his ultimate ability, teleporting to Akali's side, and immediately, began to choke for air. HE picked up Akali's motionless body, diving out of the smokescreen. However, he landed in the wrong direction, appearing before Teemo. Try as he might, he could not stand, his lungs burning.
"The shrooms I have are advanced from the ones I would usually use…they are evolved, in a sense, thanks to Zyra… As a defense, poison is released alongside the spores, meaning, they are air-born. Of course, not too strongly. They more coat the spores to kill off any micro-organisms where the spores might land, disinfecting the soil they land upon so that they may grow…but when your friend there used the smokescreen…well…let's just say she agitated the spores. She breathed in poison dust. And you…"
"Why…" Shen coughed out, "Why are you doing this…"
"Oh? So now you want to talk…well…let's just say, I was scared…all I know is killing, and after a long walk through the jungle, I realized…we…we as champions…we are dangerous…I came here originally to be alone…to find my way…and you know what happened? I did find it…or, I suppose I could say…it found me…" The meeps surrounding Teemo lit up his features, his hair being more matted and thick, his clothes were tattered and worn, but still good enough to wear. He bent down, over Shen's body.
"Bard came to me."
Shen's eyes opened wide. Finally, he could not hide his feelings.
"A war is coming…no…the war never ended…I have found my purpose, and once more I have to walk into the fray…should another Rune War start…not only is Runeterra doomed…so are many other worlds…at least, that's what he told me…apparently, I am worthy of understanding his speech…but I digress…" Teemo stood, his features turning dark even with being illuminated, his voice cold. "You speak of balance, yet, do you not see? Our existence could easily tip the scales in any war, any battle. As long as we exist, balance is just a fantasy…Bard is like us…he has powers beyond anything we could imagine…yet…he takes no action...I've found my purpose…I have found enlightenment…I know what I am…I am a killer…" from within his clothes he pulled out a mask, putting it on, "and, I'm afraid I have a mission…to save this world…I must hunt down all other champions…you, who speak of balance, you, with those prized eyes able to see anything and everything, able to find the impurities of this world…how can you fight for balance when you cannot even see the truth? Perhaps those eyes are holding you back…allow me to enlighten you…"
He took aim at Shen…