"Are you sure this is where they'll be?" Two cloaked figures stood in front of a Piltover bar, each with a glass of wine in hand, one slender and one whose upper body seemed disproportionate to the lower. A shock of white hair was barely visible in the shadows of the slender one's hood, and the person inside smiled.

"I'm positive. Demacia is too dangerous for the princess and there's nowhere else they would go to plan their next move. Are you ready to do what needs done?" The figure spoke in a low tone. The other figure's eyes shone from the darkness and moved vertically in confirmation. "Good. They'll be around in a few days…"

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Indeed, it did take three days of driving to get back to Piltover. Lux had taken the wheel of the bus since Piltover's finest had to pick up their own vehicle. But they did all manage their way back to Piltover, finally stopping in front of the police station. As Vi got out of the cruiser she grinned. Ah, home sweet home. The sheer familiarity of the building put joy in her heart and Caitlyn's alike. Jinx hailed the place as a symbol of new beginning and the others were indifferent.

That evening, the group went out to enjoy themselves after a day of unwinding and planning for their next move. Lux and Vi had gotten separated from the others, but they didn't care. They could find Caitlyn and Jinx through the communicators they wore. So it was with ease that a cloaked figure managed to catch the somewhat tipsy pair off guard on their way to another bar.

Tipsy did not equal disabled, though, and despite being backed into an alleyway they were ready for a fight. Lux's hands lit up as did Vi's gauntlets, but the person in front of them held their hands up in peace. Slowly and carefully as to avoid causing either woman to attack, the figure began to remove its hood. White hair spilled from the darkness that shrouded the head of the swordswoman known as Riven as she shook off the cloak, revealing her battle gear.

"Noxian," Lux growled. Her hand went to the hilt of the blade she kept on her hip and Riven rested her hand on her broken sword. The two stared each other down, neither wanting to back down in case the other attacked. Unfortunately, Riven's arm twitched instinctively as Vi moved forward slightly and that was all it took for Lux to strike. Vi watched as if in slow motion as Lux's arm tensed and she drew her blade, slashing at Riven all in the same motion.

Riven had just enough time to parry Lux's harsh blow, sending the pair rolling out onto the street ahead. Vi swore. Apparently Lux was even more trigger-happy than she was when she'd had some alcohol, which really was saying something. Vi ran out into the street and scanned the area, finally stopping when she saw a damaged fire escape. Catching a glimpse of Lux's boot disappearing up and over the roof, Vi fired her gauntlets up and dashed forward, leaping and swinging up. The sight that lay before her upon hitting the roof was entrancing to Vi

Lux and Riven were locked in combat on the rooftops of the business establishments. Lux proved to be a worthy contender to Riven, blocking every attack both physical and runic and firing back with her light binding spells, which in turn Riven dodged with inhuman agility. Lux pressed the attack, pushing Riven to the edge of one roof and surprising Riven with a right hand to the temple.

Riven's head snapped around with the force of the blow, but Riven had enough awareness of her surroundings to perform a neat backflip up to another, taller rooftop. "Stop!" She shouted down. Lux clutched the sword tightly and glared up at her opponent. "I'm not here to fight. Can you leash her or something?" Riven called out to Vi.

"If you aren't here to trade blades, what ARE you doing here?" Vi asked, giving Lux a disapproving look. The light mage sheathed her weapon after some hesitation. Seeing the weapon put away, Riven leapt back across and landed in front of the pair. "Usually I'm the one getting into needless fights…" Vi muttered.

"If you're quite done acting like children…" Riven began indignantly. She looked at Lux. She looked at Lux's hand. Lux's hand that hadn't left the hilt of her sword after she'd sheathed it. Riven crossed her arms and waiting until Lux finally, begrudgingly let it go. "Thank you. I heard about what happened at that prison," She said. Vi smirked.

"Yeah. It was kind of a big deal. Blew the whole place to the ground," She said with a cocky grin. "Then again, Noxus did attack me, nearly kill me then trap my friends in that very place, so yeah… fair trade," Vi added.

"Yes, a very big deal. So big that Noxus actually sought me out after they got word that I still lived after the Ionian war. I was hand-delivered my orders from Cassieopia to find the culprits and bring them in alive as well as free her sister," She said, pursing her lips. "Don't," She added as Lux went for the weapon again.

"Well, from the fact that you haven't taken Lux's head off yet I can garner that you've taken exception to those orders?" Vi said. Lux snorted.

"As if she could," And with that, Lux found that broken sword pressed to her neck. Vi tensed; she didn't think Riven would really kill Lux, but her killer instinct was always ready for a brawl.

"You are obviously inebriated. And a very, very lightweight drinker," Riven stated into Lux's ear. Lux swallowed hard, wondering if she was living her last. After a very terse moment, Riven released her hold, leaving Lux to stumble over to Vi's side. "In any case, Vi is right. Noxus is out of line to order assassinations for a reason that they caused. Not to mention that I'm no assassin myself," Riven added.

"So… what's the whole point here? You got something to say or just a warning?" Vi demanded. She was getting impatient with this white-haired interruption to her night out. Riven sighed and sheathed her sword. Vi was no psychologist, but she could tell that Riven was on the cusp of making a difficult decision for herself. Doubt, lingering pain and anger all danced through the eyes of the Noxian as she stood there silent.

"Noxus is not the army it was when I commanded part of it. All sense of honor, all sense of true pride has gone. All that is left is a withered husk infected with greed, hatred and innocent blood. I want to eradicate that… that filth that was once my home. If you'll have me." Riven said finally. Vi opened her mouth, but Riven was not done. "I do, however, need to see… Katarina," She said. Vi narrowed her eyes at the name.

"Why?" She snapped.

"She and I were once close, Vi. I… I know what she has become. And what she is. And how Noxus corrupts. I just… I don't believe that Katarina is beyond the point of redemption," Riven said bitterly. Vi bared her teeth and snarled.

"The bitch killed my family! She killed my childhood! She killed my life! And nearly killed my sister! You think for a MOMENT that I would EVER trust that trash?" She roared, subconsciously firing up her gauntlets. She did that when she got emotional from time to time. Riven grit her teeth. She knew this wasn't going to be easy.

"No. The Katarina I know would never… She was not always as she is. Noxus has a way of corrupting young minds developed for hundreds of years now. I have to at least try to-"

"I heard reports of a whole lot of sword fighting and the Enforcer of Piltover giving chase. I didn't expect to see you guys here, though," Jinx said, appearing from seemingly nowhere. Behind her, clambering up onto the roof was Caitlyn. Tristana and Teemo soon followed and the gang was finally assembled before Riven.

"Riven wants to join us. But she also wants to go try and make Katarina a good girl again. Thinks she's got good in her. Like I'd ever trust that trash. If you can fight with us without Katarina, welcome to the group. Otherwise, forget it," Vi said bluntly.

Seeing Vi's sister gave Riven the perfect argument. "Oh? Tell me, was that how you felt when you found out about your sister? Or the split personality? Was your first thought when you realized that your sister was normal deep down to punish her for all the murders she committed during her insanity?" She asked. Vi froze.

"Are you comparing Jessie to Katarina?" She growled dangerously.

"They've both murdered hundreds of people under a mindset corrupted by outside forces. They were both once innocent, dependable and honorable women. Where's the difference, Enforcer?" Riven challenged. Vi opened her mouth to lash out with a razor-sharp retort but came up short. She tried again but once again had no argument. Feeling a hand on her shoulder, she turned to find the object of the current conversation smiling.

"She's got a point, sis. Katarina really is just like me if Riven's telling the truth. And I see no reason to distrust a woman who's been through as much as her," Jinx said, staring at the white-haired warrior with sympathy. Vi looked thoroughly shocked. She closed her eyes, bowed her head and thought for a moment. Could she ever forgive the Noxian assassin? Would Katarina fight for their cause? Would she be capable of fighting alongside Katarina? Another hand on her shoulder, this time from her other partner, made her look up.

"This may be the one chance you have at getting some closure. If we can't get to Swain, if you can't get your revenge, this may be the only way for you to let go of this… rage inside of you. Think this through, Cupcake," Caitlyn said sagely with a small smile.

Lux shook her head to clear it; the alcohol was wearing off fast. "Vi… I think you should at least try. I don't like the woman either. She's been after my brother for years. She attempted twice to kidnap me for Noxus' undoubtedly foul intentions. But if there's some chance, some hope… she's amazingly skilled. Noxus is preparing for a war… one that they will free her from that prison for if we don't get there first," She said.

"Second that," Tristana said.

"I can tell you from personal experience that Katarina is far too valuable to an army to simply bypass a chance to recruit her due to personal qualms," Teemo piped up. Vi bit her lip and looked around at her friends, then finally to Riven.

"One chance. And I come with you," She said, holding up one finger. Riven nodded, then drew her sword once more, holding it flat in her hands and offering it to Vi, who took up the broken blade in confusion as Riven knelt down.

"You may sheathe my sword and show your willing trust or kill me with my own blade. This is the Noxian ritual of trust," Riven said, head bowed and neck clearly exposed. Everyone present stared fascinated, before finally the inevitable happened.

"Has anyone ever lost their head in this ritual?" Tristana asked, causing everyone but Riven and Vi to pinch the bridge of their nose.

"All whom I've deemed unworthy to fight by my side," Riven said with a perfectly straight face that curved into a small smile at the look on Tristana's face. "That was a joke," She added. Vi rolled her eyes, turned the broken sword in her hand and held it high over Riven before plunging it down into its home on Riven's belt.