Author's Note

More plot twists going around! This chapter took me longer than I expected...I didn't really plan this whole stuff here...it was a spontaneous idea :P

Oh, and I really like to end a chapter with sleeping...huh. Anyway..Have fun!

Chapter 10

The Incident

In some tavern, somewhere on Valoran

‟So...you want me to do this?", a male voice said.

‟Exactly. Is it too much for someone like you?", another voice said. Even though it was a metallic and unnatural voice it sounded...annoyed.

‟Ha! Damn little bitch! My men are the best for this kind of job! You won't find anyone with our equipment!", the man answered and laughed.

‟Good. I have a long list with potential candidates...but, it's good you changed your mind", the voice answered.

‟So...something special about it? Any special requests? It's not a regular attack, right?"

‟Right", said the other person. The person grabbed under his long mantle and laid two pictures on the table. ‟What happens to the rest of the crew or person on board isn't relevant. Kill them, steal their stuff...or do whatever you want with them. But, these two here..are not to be harmed! Steal their coins or something like this...and remember to put this little device into their bag packs."

‟Whatever you wish. As long as the payment is alright."

‟I give you...fifty percent in advance. You'll get the rest, when you do the job as I wished. But, if you fail me...you and your whole..bunch of worthless idiots...will be dead", the metallic voice said.

‟Ha! I'll not be browbeaten by someone like you", the men exclaimed.

‟You'll better be..." the person said. ‟You can't hide from me, If you fail. Go and do it...or your dead by tomorrow." With that the person left the tavern.

Harbor of Narbori on Ionia

It was quite late in the afternoon. The sun already started to sink behind the horizon. But, it was this time when Ionia awoke again from their long sleep after their great new year's festival, even though it was only for a couple of hours. The merchants took down their stands, others the stages and the rest started to tidy up the cities from garbage.

Narbori was already a very busy town. The ferries and ships from Piltover, Demacia and so on didn't stop coming, so the harbor workers have already their hands full of work. Right now one Piltovian ferry laid at the docks. Only a few passengers got out and far more people wanted on board to sail back to their homes.

Outside of the city four riders got closer. A rather strange group for people who didn't know them. Two Ionian woman and two others most likely from somewhere on Valoran. The first two wore traditional Ionian armor and clothing, while the other ones silver armor and a simple travel outfit.

One of the riders was Riven. She had her backpack and her blade by her side. She wore her usual travel outfit again. She looked over the approaching city. She had a strange feeling right now. She entered this country with panic and fear and left it with new found strength, a new goal and a beloved at her side. 'Strange things had happened, huh?', she thought as she rode down the hill into the town.

She looked to her right where Diana rode. She also wore her normal armor again, together with the little pendant what made Riven happy. She looked back to her and smiled. She stroked her thigh for a moment, before grabbing the reins again. There wasn't any need to hide their relationship from the public, as they both didn't mind any glances or something like this. As champions they stood above stuff like this anyway. Riven was happy it turned out this way.

A few hours ago Irelia had woken them up and asked them if they want to take the ferry in the evening or wait another day. Diana had answered that they would do it, even though Riven didn't really wanted to give up her sleeping place on Diana's chest.

Anyway, they got up again and started to pack the few things they had with them. They took a short breakfast before they already left Placidium together with Karma and Irelia. And what a leaving! As they rode through the city, the crowd cheered for them, applauded them. They even got a few presents from the people. 'Theses people..', Riven thought with a smile.

On their little journey back to the harbor, they took the path through Xuen Valley, the other only way to reach Placidium. This path was far more impressive than the one, which they took on their first trip. Left and right from the street were many small inns, villages and a few monasteries. In short: This path symbolized Ionia far better than any other part of the country.

As they reached the city, they gave the same stable master their horses and walked on foot to the docks. The streets were filled with all kinds of travelers. Luckily for them, they made space when Karma and Irelia approached them. Even here some people pointed at Riven and Diana.

‟Don't like this...to be the middle of attention. I don't have a problem on a stage or something like this...but the whole watching and so on..", she whispered to Diana.

‟Yeah, I know what you mean. Don't matter..there are the docks", Diana answered.

The ship which lay there was a pretty big ferry from Piltover, far bigger than the one with which Riven had traveled. Some sailors brought some boxes and barrels on board, while on the other side passengers entered the ship to sail home.

‟So..this is a goodbye then?", Riven asked and turned around to Karma and Irelia.

‟Not for long, I assume. We will meet again in the League. We still have some duties here, after that we will come back", Karma answered and smiled. ‟It was an honor to have you as our guests."

‟It was a pleasure", Diana said and returned the smile.

‟Yeah..I think so", Riven replied.

‟It was, Riven", Irelia said with a grin. ‟After all..you found peace within yourself. I hope to see you both again...if not in the League, then on the Fields of Justice."

‟Alright, alright. It was a pleasure to be here", Riven said and rubbed the back of her head.

‟Good luck on your way home to the League...and good luck for both of you ", Karma said and winked at them. Riven blushed slightly and even Diana did it too. Irelia laughed quietly.

‟Eh..thank you for everything", Riven replied and Diana just nodded.

‟No need to be shy here." Karma laughed. ‟I have eyes you know...well then..go on board before it departs without you."

‟Good fortune for your future!", Irelia said to them and bowed.

They both bowed before the Ionians, wished them a good fortune and luck as well, then turned around and walked on to the bridge. A man and a few sailors stood there and sold tickets to the waiting passengers. They bought two of them, in which a more or less good cabin was included, and boarded the ship.

A bell rang and the bridge was taken in and slowly the Piltovian ship left the island of Ionia. Riven and Diana stood at the stern side of the ferry and watched as the city slowly got smaller. Karma and Irelia turned around and disappeared into the crowd of humans. They felt a fresh sea breeze on their skin and heard the motors of the ship working under them.

‟How do you feel?", Diana asked and put an arm around Riven's hip, gently stroking her.

‟Balanced and happy...a feeling I've never had in my entire life...and you?", Riven replied and sighed with joy, while she put an arm around Diana too.

‟Everything turned out perfectly..the festival, the spreading of the truth..but, the most important thing, stand right beside me", Diana said and smiled.

‟Now you're getting too...gooey", Riven replied and laughed quietly.

‟I speak only truth", she said and gave Riven a kiss on her cheek.

‟Hm..no mouth today? Only a good morning kiss?", Riven asked with a grin.

‟Oh..now you're getting greedy", Diana answered and laughed. ‟But, anyway..because it's you..."

The time slowly passed, while they both stood at the stern side and exchanged caresses and silken words with each other. The moon started to rise and the stars sparkled in the night sky. The stern side slowly got empty as it went darker and darker unless nobody else was here. Only the moon and a few lights lit the surrounding area.

Slowly Riven let go of Diana and looked into her eyes, just enjoying this moment of peace. She had a great feeling and suddenly something came into her mind. She nearly forgot it, because of everything else what had happened. 'Your body and spirit need to be one...'

‟You know...there...there is something I want to try out", she said to Diana, which smiled at her words.

‟I think..I know what do you want. Go on. You can do it..your mind and body is one now, right?", Diana encouraged her and stepped back.

Riven dropped her backpack and drew her sword from her back. Luckily Irelia had given her a practical and fitting leather bandolier, where she could carry her blade around on her back. As she drew it the green runes glimmered. But not like they usually did, no this time it was far stronger and brighter then ever before. A part of the whole stern side was illuminated by the light.

‟You sword clearly understands you", Diana said.

‟Yeah...I will try it out now. I will summon...the whole blade. It will most likely take some time...if you want to go in..", Riven replied and sat down in the middle of the deck.

‟Ts. I wait here for you...I believe in you!"

She held her sword with both hands before herself and closed her eyes. She didn't do this meditation in a rather long time, so it took her some time, to get a feeling of the runic energy again. She felt it. But it wasn't the same feeling. No. This time it was...stronger and far more powerful than before. It was like..her sword felt how she found new strength and a restored will.

Riven tried to catch the magical energy. The runic flow. But it was like catching an eel. It always slipped away from here. 'Don't force yourself..", Riven thought and relaxed. Her mind drifted back to the stage, her promise to the people there. She remembered the northern gardens and the first kiss, she shared with Diana.

'I have something to rebuild..I have something to protect..I have someone to protect..someone who loves me...', she thought. Somehow she felt that, that wasn't enough for her sword. It wanted more from her.

'Yes. I made a mistake back then. I shattered my blade and hoped to start anew...but I couldn't start like this, unless I faced it. Unless I found something to fight for. I crushed my own demons', Riven thought and felt the magical energy within her fingers. She felt an unbelievable power. 'I want to fight again. Fight for my beliefs...like I did back in Noxus army.'

Her whole body started to tingle with excitement and energy. Somehow..she knew what to do now. ‟I summon you...Blade of the Exile", she said with a resounding, but still calm voice. Riven needed to close her eyes, as green runic energy lit the whole deck. Then it fainted as soon as it came.

Riven felt a heavy weight in her hands and slowly opened her eyes. She held her full blade within her hands. It was the same feeling, like in the League. No. Not the same. It felt far better, she felt new energy and power in every vein of her body. She looked over to Diana, which looked surprised, but nevertheless happy.

‟You did it! You summoned your whole sword!", she exclaimed and drew her sword. ‟How about a little fight then?" She winked at her.

‟Well, I think...", as soon as Riven started to speak, but suddenly she felt how the energy left her. She tried to keep the focus on her blade, but it was meaningless. The summoned pieces of the sword, disappeared into ashes and were blown away by the sea wind.

‟Huh..that was short lived", Diana said and withdrew her sword with a smile.

‟Damn it", Riven cursed quietly.

‟It was your first time..I think you did a great job there...and hey, I suppose you will be able to hold the summoning longer with more training." She smiled encouraging, and stretched her arms.

‟Well..I suppose so. By the way..how long was I away?"

‟Not that long. If I had to guess...half an hour or less", Diana replied. ‟Shall we go to our cabin?"

‟Yeah. Let's go", Riven said and grabbed her backpack. 'Half an hour..huh..I need to summon it immediately, when I need it...this will take time", Riven thought while she followed Diana.

They entered the inside of the ship, which was the typical Piltovian style. Practical. Most of the corridors, which were rather big and not like the ones from the ferry which Riven took on her arrival, were made out of something metallic, but many carpets muted the noise. Nevertheless, it wasn't a very..comfortable ship.

The corridors were lit by some hextech devices. They only met a few other passengers on their way and some sailors. Riven saw how some of them were equipped with sabers and pistols. 'Rather well equipped for a civilian passenger ship...', Riven thought.

After a short search for their cabin, Diana finally opened the door and they stepped in. Two beds and a little cupboard as well as a small table, were nearly everything inside it. Well, if you don't count the little window which showed nothing but water and darkness.

‟Well..that's enough, I guess. That's not a long journey anyway", Riven said and dropped her backpack near the little window. She looked out, but only saw the reflecting moon on the water. The water was nearly as smooth as a mirror.

‟Yep. Even though I hoped as champions we get something better", Diana replied and sat down on the bed. ‟Anything interesting out there?", she asked, while she put off some of her armor.

‟Only darkness...", Riven replied and blinked. 'Huh?', she thought and stepped closer to the window. She believed to see something in the distance. A faint red light, which came closer. ‟Do you see that, Diana?", she asked.

Diana stood up and looked through the window. As it came closer, the red light was obviously some sort of flame. A torch or something like this. Suddenly both of them heard the sound of a bell which was rung frantically. ‟Damn it...that's the last thing we need", Diana said and grabbed her blade. She put on her armor again.

There was no other doubt. The red light belonged to another ship. As it got closer the silhouette was clearly to see. ‟They extinguished all their torches and light sources...damn it. Let's go to the captain and...", Riven started to say, but she was interrupted by a loud explosion. They heard panicking people and yelled orders.

‟Shit let's get moving", Diana said and left the cabin.

Riven grabbed her own blade and followed Diana. 'No relaxing evening this time', she thought and stretched her muscles.

They left their cabin in a hurry and ran on the outside of the ferry. The pirate ship already came closer and closer. Other canon shots were fired, but they didn't hit their ship. 'Warning shots', Riven thought. Panicking passengers made it hard for them to come forward. She was some sailors who grabbed pistols and rifles.

One of them looked in their direction and ran towards them.

‟Here you are! You're Riven and Diana right? Champions of the League?", he asked.

‟Yeah. What is it?", Diana asked.

‟The captain wanted to speak with you! Follow me! Fast!"

The three of them ran through the ship and climbed up some ladders. Riven looked to the starboard side. They were nearly in range to board them. Riven believed to hear their loud noises and laughing.

As they reached it, the bridge was a more or less opened platform a bit higher above the rest of the decks and was only protected by some glass on the front side and a roof, most likely against bad weather conditions. The captain already awaited them. He looked pretty nervous.

‟Can your crew fight?", Diana asked, getting straight to the point and didn't leave the man any choice to say something. ‟We're champions of the League..but even for us, it's a big tough fighting a complete ship."

‟We're all trained in hand to hand combat. This part of the ocean is dangerous enough. Besides, we have a full load of artificial defenders under deck. But, I need you both to organize and rally my man...it's their first fight", the captain answered. He looked over to a radio equipment. ‟There's no chance we can get Piltover on the phone. They're too far away..and until a bird reached Ionia we will be finished. It's only us."

‟We can make it. It's..", Riven started to speak before they heard a loud voice. Riven looked over to the pirate ship. It came from there, then they heard a man started talking, most likely empowered by some magical device. His voice was clearly to hear.

‟Hey there...nice ship you have there...wouldn't be good for ya, if we start to shoot our little friends here!" The pirate ship was suddenly lit by some fires. Riven clearly saw some monstrous cannons, directly pointed at the ferry. They got loaded just in this moment, but with a strange small cannon ball. Somehow unfitting for their size.

‟If you think about resistance...think again! These little babies make short process, with anyone on board..well, you can let us come aboard and give us your trinkets and money...or get killed! You have...about two minutes before we start shooting!", the voice yelled.

There was a short silence on the bridge. The sailors looked to their captain, while he looked to Riven and Diana. On the other decks they clearly could hear the scared screaming of people. For a short moment, Riven was back in Ionia. She remembered the attack on one village. She heard the voices again. She took a deep breath to calm down. 'We need a clear head now', she thought.

‟These are not our everyday pirates, if they want to sink our ship like this", Diana said with a calm voice. ‟I mean..how do they get at our treasures then?"

‟What do we do?", the captain asked.

Riven walked to the edge of the bridge and looked down on the pirate ship. The massive canons were pointed at the lower decks. Somehow they reminded her of something. Their structure, their style. ‟Shit..", she exclaimed as it hit her.

‟What is it, Riven?", Diana asked.

‟Fucking bastards...can't imagine how they got their hands on this kind of weaponry", Riven said and took a deep breath. ‟These aren't any normal canons. They..they nearly look like melters."

‟Melters? What the fuck is this?", a sailor asked and looked to Riven.

‟You don't say...?", Diana asked. Her voice reached from a surprise to a frightened tone.

‟These are fucking war machines from Zaun. They don't just shoot cannon balls...these are chemical weapons. One or two shots on the lower decks and the freed gas would be enough to kill anyone down there", Riven said and crunched her teeth. Pictures of Couer Valley flushed in her mind, she remembered the devastating power of these canons during her time in Ionia. The necrotic and deadly effects of the chemical weapons.

‟No choice. Let them come aboard..if we're lucky they only grab our money and sail away again", Riven said frustrated about the situation.

‟Ah shit..", Diana exclaimed angrily. The other sailors and even the captain didn't look very happy either, but here wasn't a choice to make. When the passengers should remain alive, they need to surrender.

‟Here's the captain of the Piltovian ferry...we surrender. Come aboard..but please don't harm the passengers", the captain said through another magical device. They heard the laughing of the pirate crew. ‟Machine room..all engines stop. At any sailor or civilian on board..do not resist!", the captain said with a somehow helpless voice.

Riven heard how bridges were deployed and the pirates, which were boarding the ferry. She felt an unbelievable hatred right now. She looked over to Diana, which crunched her teeth. ‟Damn it", she cursed quietly.

They heard pirates who climbed up some ladders and opened doors. They also heard some screaming, crying and many curses from the passengers, but as well from the pirates. Then some of them stood on the bridge, They pointed their pistols and rifles at them.

With no other choice right now, Riven raised her arms and clasped them behind her head. Diana and the others did the same thing. The pirates didn't take any further notice and started to grab anything which looked valuable. They did it fast and professional. 'Diana was obviously right..', Riven thought. One of them looked at her blade and then her body, a dirty grin on his face.

‟Don't even think about it", Diana snarled to the man. Riven looked to her for a short moment, but glanced back at the pirate then.

He laughed. ‟A bit girl on girl, huh?", he said with a dirty grin. Riven and Diana just glared at him. The pirate turned around his head. ‟Hey, Cap! Aren't these two here our little princesses?", he yelled.

Another man stepped on the bridge. He was huge and buff. His black hair was cut short and scars were on his face. He wore a long mantle, sabers and pistols. He looked more or less like a typical pirate captain or leader of a gang of bandits.

‟Oh they are", he said. It was the same voice, who ordered them to surrender. ‟You two. Show me your cabin..and no funny things...you know I don't care about League protection and stuff like this...a bullet in your head is enough to kill you."

Guns were pointed at their faces and Riven crunched her teeth. ‟Alright, fine..as long as this bastard stop staring at me", she snarled and walked on. Diana followed her, as well the captain of the pirate ship and other crew members.

As they walked through the ship, they saw that the pirates were busy at work. They opened doors, collected jewelry and gold and anything which looked valuable.

‟Luckily they only care about the money and trinkets", Riven whispered to Diana, which nodded.

'But, it's far too silent', Riven thought and looked around. The passengers and sailors didn't say a thing anymore, and even most of the pirates were silent and did their job.

‟I open the door", Riven said and put her hands down, as she did it, she already felt a gun in her back. She opened it and went in, together with the rest.

‟Sit down on the bed...and don't move!", the captain said. They did as they were ordered and sat down. The pirates started to look around. They opened their backpacks, the cupboard and so on in search for any valuables.

‟Not a glorious chapter huh?", Riven whispered to Diana.

‟Yeah...but at least the passengers are alright and alive", she answered quietly.

They took their time for searching around. Luckily Riven didn't bring much to Ionia only a few gold coins. The picture of Fury Company was worthless for beings like them..the only thing was the Ionian presents, which they took with them. Riven crunched her teeth, as she saw how shameless they scrabbled in their backpacks.

‟We have anything. You two..don't fucking move. If I see you outside or one of my men sees you..we will start shooting. Understand? We will blow up this whole damn ship..alright?", the Captain said as his crew members already left.

‟Got it", Riven replied and clenched her hands.

‟Yeah", Diana said. The door was shut as the captain left the room.

‟Piece of worthless..", Riven cursed. She stood up and looked outside of the window. Luckily, their cabin was on the right side of the ship. She could clearly see how one of the cannons was pointed directly at their cabin.

‟Dammit!", Diana exclaimed and walked to the window to look out too.

The pirates were in a hurry now. They ran and stormed back to their ship, their hands full of bags, most likely filled with any stuff they could find. They heard how sailors started to curse the pirates with many colorful insults.

‟I wonder though..how did they get such equipment?", Diana asked as they watched how the bridges were taken in.

‟I can't tell you. These weren't any normal melters anyway...they had a similar style, but were built to fit on a ship. The one I know were big monstrous machines", Riven answered as she watched how the pirate ship slowly sailed away. She heard how the machines started to work again. Riven's mind started to work. Why had some pirates like this, such technology in their hands?

‟Well, let's go back to the captain shall we?", Diana suggested and Riven nodded.

‟Yeah...let's see if they're fine", Riven replied and left their place on the window.

As soon as they stepped outside, they heard an loud explosion. It was far louder than any normal canon. The ship started to waver under them, like giant waves would hit it. Riven tried to get a hold and leaned against one of the walls of the corridor.

‟Woah...", she exclaimed. She felt how her stomach started to rumble from the movement.

‟What was that?", Diana asked and looked around. She leaned against the other wall. ‟That wasn't a canon shoot, right?"

‟No. That was something far bigger", Riven answered. They started to run again, as the ship slowly calmed down again.

As they stepped on the bridge again, the captain and the other sailors looked pretty shocked. ‟You need to look at that..." The captain gave them two binoculars and pointed into the direction in which the pirate ship fled. Riven looked through it and couldn't believe her eyes.

The water was burning. Nothing was left of the ship, a few wooden planks swam in the ocean, here and there a dead body and a few barrels as well as some ammunition for the melters.

‟What the..?", Riven said and put down the binoculars.

‟What exactly happened?", Diana asked and looked back to the captain.

‟I can't tell you. As soon as they sailed away and were out of range, the whole thing exploded", the captain explained.

‟I never heard that Zaunite melter weapons fail that badly...and I know this really good", Riven replied and looked to the remains for the ship.

‟Something is not right." Diana spoke of what Riven had thought. ‟They attacked us, then their whole ship exploded...and these guys weren't any regular pirates. They did their job fast, silent and professional...no, no, no. Something is obviously not right."

‟Guess you're right...but who could have an interest like this? I mean...what was the purpose of this whole thing, then?", Riven asked and Diana shrugged.

‟I don't know", she replied. ‟Maybe we will find out more in the League."

‟Well, at least we're still alive. Piltover will pay anything back to all passengers and to you champions", the captain said.

‟I'm sorry that we were no use at all", Riven said and sighed. ‟But we're not magicians..we're close combat fighters."

‟It's okay. They didn't play fair...otherwise we would kicked their asses", the captain said and laughed quietly. He stepped to the radio equipment. ‟Alright then. Machine room full speed ahead!" He looked over to the helmsman. ‟Set course to Piltover again. I want to reach it was soon as possible. You two should get some sleep", he said over his shoulder and they nodded.

‟Yeah, we will. Hopefully nothing else will happen", Riven said and turned around.

‟Sleep well", the captain said, before he looked back into the distant.

Riven and Diana went back to their cabin and laid themselves on Diana's bed, close to each other. Diana lay on her back, while Riven right beside her. She snuggled up to her and sighed.

‟What a night..and we couldn't do anything", Riven said. She felt Diana's hand on her cheek, which gently stroked her.

‟Yeah...but, well, like the captain said everyone is fine...that is alright", Diana replied and yawned quietly. ‟Let's get some sleep, huh?", she said and smiled to her.

‟Yeah...best idea I suppose", Riven said and returned the smile. She placed her head on Diana's chest, listening to her steady heartbeat, before she slowly closed her eyes.

‟I'm your pillow again?", Diana whispered and laughed quietly.

‟Yep...I really like it", Riven whispered back. She felt Diana's warm hands on her body, how she softly stroked her. Then she slowly fell asleep.