IMPORTANT ANNOUNCEMENT!
I will start answering reviews back. Maybe that will help you leave reviews, if I answer them back. I stated I don't care what type of review you leave , I just care that you do because I would like some feedback. Also thanks to Sam and Davda who have been consistently great readers and commentators of my story. It really does mean the world to me.
Also in a few days I will launch another one-shot about Braum. Because of the positive reception of my other Riven and Yasuo one-shot , I might also do other one shots. If you want one about a particular champion or champions with some sort of basic idea or guideline I should follow, then you can request one by PM , but I can't promise that I will write about it if inspiration doesn't strike me. I will , however , put in the story who requested it , if that is what they want. Here is the catch though. The Braum one-shot will be in a SPANISH , because I will dedicate it to a friend of mine, so my Spanish speaking fans can rejoice! I can write either in Spanish or English , but I am a better writer in English.
That said , enjoy the story.
WARNING :Part of this chapter contains gore. A message will appear when the gore starts and ends, as well as a small summary of what happened for those who wish to skip it. You have been warned.
Chapter 19 : Reborn.
Kayle's eyes shot open. Her uncomfortable sleep had been interrupted. In the cell there was no bed so she slept in the corner where she was chained.
She had been waiting for the execution to come for almost a week now. She thought it might have been a week. She had no sense of time but every once in a while some servants would enter her cell with food, and she had been fed fourteen times, so if she were to eat twice a day then seven days had passed.
The reason why she had woken up was the noise made by three guards entering with a chest in hand. The one with the biggest armor , presumably the captain , spoke up.
"Your execution will be carried out today. In the chest you will find your armor and weapon" He said as the other guards unchained her and left the room " In one hour time the door will open, and the path will lead you to the Coliseum. Failure to comply will be punished by immediate death. Understood?"
Kayle nodded while standing up massaging her wrists were the chains used to be. She waited in her corner until the guards had left before walking towards the chest. Inside she found her armor and weapon.
"Execution by combat?" She said grabbing her sword which immediately light up on fire "Then so be it"
She started taking her armor out of the chest , her back pointing at the door when someone opens the door once again. The sound of water gave her a clue of who it could be.
"If thou are the maids that had been offering to bath me , I will say it one last time. I will not let neither your hands nor any other stranger touch me" She said in an authoritarian tone.
"I know we have not been that close , but I am no stranger" The voice said behind her." And please , lose that superior tone. It may impress the mortals ,but to me it just sounds silly"
Kayle's heart sped up. She would recognize the voice anywhere she went.
Turning around she could see her sister , Morgana, holding a bucket in one hand and a small stool in the other. Her form was an even stranger one. Her hair had a lighter purple tone and her body and wings were covered in leaves and vines.
Kayle wanted to run to her sister and hug her and cry. She wanted to say so many things to her. I am sorry. I didn't want this to happen. I hope you can forgive me. I now want nothing but to be with you again.
What actually comes out of her mouth was:
"You are not even worthy of looking at me."
Her pride would not allow her to speak her mind. Morgana huffed and walked towards her.
"You are dirty, sister. You are to face your death in combat , and you wouldn't want the last memories of everyone to be your dirt-covered body." Morgana said putting the stool down. "If you are covering your dirt with your armor then at the very least let me clean your wings. You can't hide that"
"Why do you care about the way I die?" Kayle asked staring at her sister.
They stood still for a few seconds , staring at each other eyes.
"I've always cared" Morgana finally said in a sad tone. "Thought I never thought I would be alive to see you dead. Always thought you would be the one to kill me"
Kayle stared for a few more seconds before chuckling and sitting on the stool.
"What is so funny?" Morgana asked.
"I've always thought that too."
Morgana smirked as her sister sat down and opened her wings, a clear indication she had taken the sorceresses proposal. Of course , she would never say it out loud but her action spoke for themselves. Slowly but surely Morgana took the sponge from the bucket and started cleaning her sister.
The silence once again took over while she cleaned the wings , taking the dirt of the feathers and plucking the ones that were damaged.
"Why did you decide to leave the order?" Kayle finally asked "You had spoken out about your discomfort back in Heven, but nothing that seemed to imply that you would leave it and join the rebel forces. It was so sudden"
Morgana continued with her task at hand.
"I hated it there" She said "It might have looked sudden to the rest of you , but for me? It was long overdue. I spent centuries resisting the urge to speak my mind. I looked the other way for so long, because I didn't want to lose you or my world. But I realized that I wasn't happy there. The only moment I was happy was …."
"When you were with me" Kayle finished the sentence "But the other would not allow that"
The conversation ended there and Morgana finished her task in a few minutes. After that they both stood up , and the Fallen Angel grabbed the stool and the bucket and headed to the door without saying a word.
"Do you hate me ,sister?"
Morgana froze in place under the doorway and pondered the question for a few seconds.
"I never hated you" She finally admitted "And I never wanted you dead. I only wished that you could be more open of other points of view."
The Juridicator said nothing only nodding in understanding of the Fallen Angel's words. It was only after Morgana closed the door and walked away that Kayle spoke once more. The words had been trying to escape her mouth ever since Morgana left
"I'm sorry" Kayle said in a sad tone.
The coliseum was full. Champions and Summoners alike were forced to bear witness the execution. The League wanted to show that not even someone like Kayle was above the rules established by them. Even champions that were considered too dangerous, like Cho'gath and Shaco were present. They were chained and bound , of course , but they were present
Located on the podium at the centre of the narrower side of the arena on the north side , sat the Archmage , and his two councilors, Kolminye and Abbadon.
As Bane waited for the gate before him to open he went by the plan once again.
The Summoners were divided in two when it came to the matter of Kayle's life. Some people wanted to see her alive and be forgiven for her crimes , while others…. didn't. The amount of people that wanted to see her dead was much greater than those that wanted to see her live, and as such she was sentence to death. Kolminye however , decided to create a plan to save her.
She pretended to want Kayle executed , and as such became the voice of those who wanted her dead , on contrast with Abbadon and his people. That way , when she showed her true intentions , it would seem like she change her mind and could convince the Archmage to forgive the angel's life.
To do that, however , she needed the help from Bane , as he was the executioner. Right now Kayle was the monster and Bane the victim. If she were to live the roles would have to be reversed. He would need to harm Kayle to such an extent , without killing her , that even the Archmage would not stand for it. How much that was , nobody knew.
Cassiopeia gave them a list of powerful , yet malleable Summoners who would change their opinion once Kolminye changed hers. This would allow them to change the popular opinion much easier. Soraka would be waiting after the fight to help Kayle with her injuries. Heimerdinger was handed plans which had secrets of the master craftsmen that once inhabited her planet of Heven , which had been reclaimed by Bane in one of his earlier missions. Morgana had all the materials ready to help Cecil, if the damage to her sister had been too severe , then they would build her new body parts with magic and science, with the help of the Summoners Chloe and Sabrina. Kayle had no knowledge of the plan , as she would have never allowed herself to be part of something so devious.
As such , the only people who knew about the plan were Morgana, Orianna, Chloe , Sabrina , Soraka, Cassiopeia , Heimerdinger , Kolminye, Karma and him.
"Are you ready?" A voice said in his head.
"Yes , I am" He answered back.
Kolminye had established a telepathic connection with him , to tell him what he needed to do.
"Good, because it is starting now"
The gates before him opened and as he grabbed his war hammer with his only hand he started to walk. Ravier and Makan followed closely behind him in their human forms. He had refused any type of assistance or prosthesis before his fight with Kayle. He wanted the fight to be fair. As such , he was one handed and one-eyed, but he was far from harmless.
As he walked towards the center he gave a quick glance to his friends. He had been avoiding them ever since the visit of Kolminye. If the plan were to work , he would have to lose their friendship. He even spotted Lulu , Annie and Amumu. They had brought the children to see such slaughter. Would he be able to do his part?
And as he arrived to the center he closed his eyes and remembered his last conversation with Karma.
It was the day before the execution and they were both in his chambers. Since he had been named the new enforcer of the rules of the League he had been taken deeper into the Institute. Away from the other champions.
Karma had not been happy with the plan , and had expressed her discomfort with it from the first time she heard it. But it was the first time he had seen her that angry.
Well, as angry as a person such as her could be , but angry nonetheless.
"Are you aware of what is at stakes? What you will lose by doing this?" She asks in a loud tone.
"I am" He simply answered back.
"Then , why?" She said " Why would you destroy every tie you have with your friends to save her life? You are exchanging your life for hers."
Andreas stood still watching his index finger. They had recovered his wedding bands from his arm so he once again had them. If he was to be honest , he really didn't care about the loss of his arm and eye. He was actually amazed by the fact that he hadn't lost more than that or that he didn't die , but it didn't surprise him that those around him found it to be more important.
"Because it is the right thing to do" He finally said " And it is what you would do too."
Karma opened her mouth to speak again but closed it.
She headed towards the door before speaking again
"I will be there through it." She said " I hope you know what you are doing."
Opening his eyes once more he found that the Juridicator was standing in front of him.
She was in her armor and with her weapon in hand, so it was impossible to see her face clearly but he could tell that she was tired. Her wings however were clean, which was the signal Morgana had told him she would send , if her sister were worth saving. That was the only motivation he needed to fulfill his part.
As the Archmage stood up , all the chatter around the Coliseum ended.
"We are present here to witness the execution of Kayle , The Juridicator" His voice boomed around the Arena , magically enhanced so it could be through the Coliseum "She has attempted to murder a champion of the League twice , is responsible for the maiming of that very same champion , and is responsible for the destruction of the League's property. However, I will allow her some final words."
As he sat back Kayle spoke up.
"I will not try to justify my actions" She began saying "It was what I believe was correct. I now know however that my decisions were misguided. I wish I could change my previous behavior , but I will gladly take responsibility for my mischief."
A few seconds of silence followed but then a giant boom filled the arena. It was a sign. The combatants were to walk to their respective corners.
As he walked to his corner , Bane realized that despite his missing limbs the fight was not fair for Kayle. She tumbled as she walked and could barely hold her blade. She would not be able to summon her divine intervention during battle.
Once they were both in position and facing each other Kolminye spoke to him once more.
"Remember the plan , mister Enns. I will tell you when it is enough."
Another boom. The combatants had to ready their weapons. As he grabbed Volendrung and started to make Ravier spin behind him , Kayle ignited her sword.
The three seconds that took for the final boom seemed to last an eternity as the gazes of the fighters locked with one another.
Boom. (WARNING , GORE STARTS HERE)
Kayle was the first to attack. Her wings too tired to fly she ran towards Bane. Even in a weakened state she was still a force to be reckoned with. But she was far from a threat to him.
He stood still until she was just a few steps away from him, then without moving an inch made Ravier clash with her sword. The Angel swung multiple times at the Catoblepas but never managed to connect the blade.
She stood back to catch her breath and tried to swing once more but this time the blade was caught by him.
"You know what Kayle?" He said. His voice , as well as her could be heard all around the arena "You disappoint me"
He calmly broke her sword into pieces, making her step back in shock. Not allowing her to take a single moment of breath he swung his warhammer at her stomach sending her flying towards the center of the arena.
Once there she grabbed her stomach in pain. The armor had been destroyed and the blood rushed to her mouth. Bones had been shattered and the blood was pouring from the wound.
Before she was able to stand up , Bane came crashing down from the sky landing in her legs. Her agonizing screams filled the Coliseum , while some of the spectators gasped in horror. His hooves remained in place while her broken bones cracked.
"You say you have realized your errors but.." He was interrupted when she tried to attack him with her reckoning but because of Makan it simply redirected back to her burning her hand.
Andreas stood up while she grabbed her arm in pain.
"But you are still wearing that damn armor" He said in an angry voice , with red-glowing eyes.
One by one , he started to remove her plates destroying them in the process. Ripping them off while the Angel remained in the ground wallowing in pain.
What was only left was the bleeding , naked and wounded angel for all of the spectators to see.
"Kolminye" He asked mentally
"Not enough. The Archmage didn't even react" She answered back.
"You are right" The angel said " I have failed my family."
Bane grabbed her by the neck raising her to the air.
"YOUR family? You don't have a family. I had a family! You have never protected anyone beside your stupid order. You left my daughter and wife to die." He screamed at her " And now you tried to kill your sister! The only family I had left! Well no more!"
He smashed his head towards her breaking her nose. The partition snapped in three and blood poured from the holes , as she was unable to even scream from the pain falling back to the ground.
"No more!" He screamed kicking her in the face, his hoof dislocating her jaw.
"Do you hear me?! No more!" He screamed as he punched her face finally breaking her jaw.
"YOU DON'T GET TO HURT MY FAMILY ANYMORE!" He screamed at her finally landing a devastating right blow to the other side , feeling the ribs crack under his fingers.
He remained still for a few seconds before walking towards her, looking at the now crying angel before him. He could hear everyone in the arena. The crying of the children. The shock of his friends at his ferocity. The pleading of Abbadon to forgive her life. He could even hear the wailing of Morgana, who was hidden from the crowd.
"Please ,Kolminye. This has to be enough. Please tell me it is enough" He pleaded.
"Just a bit more! Abbadon is getting to him." She answered. "You must endure it!"
"Please" The angel cried from the ground. "Just kill me! Kill me!"
His face remained unchanged as he cried on the inside. He once again kicked her on the side , making her body tumble around. They were in the dead center of the arena , allowing everyone a perfect view of them.
"I could kill you." He said putting his scythe in the back of her neck."But not just yet"
He sent Ravier and Volendrung flying and with his only hand he grabbed her wings by the bones.
"What.. what are you-" She asked with fear.
He began to pull.
"I could kill you. But that would only end your agony and silence your shame. First , I have to hurt you!" He screamed.
And with one final pull her wings were ripped off. The bones in her back were exposed and covered in guts and blood. The screams of agony were accompanied by the crowds screams of horror.
"Those.. Those are my-" She began saying.
With an evil smile he said "No. They are mine"
His jaw expanded as he put the wings in his mouth. The gazes of the onlookers were petrified with fear as the cracks of the bones and the sounds of the guts came from his mouth. The only thing that remained of what was once Kayle's wings was a single feather, that was stuck in his mouth, which he promptly grabbed and burned.
"Let's play more , darling!" He screamed.
And as he threw himself at her and she screamed, finally the Archmage spoke up, freezing everyone in place.
"ENOUGH!" He screamed. A single tap of his walking stick enough to magically freeze them in place. "You were to execute the Juridicator , not torture her!"
"By the gods Archmage!"Abbadon said "You must forgive her!"
"Alright, I think I can convince him now" Kolminye said.
"Archmage. Taking into account what has transpired here , I think that the Juridicator's life can be forgiven. This fate was worse than death" She finally said.
The Archmage stood still before speaking again.
"All of the champions and summoners are to return to their daily work! The Juridicator's life will not be taken! Get her some medical help!"
As if on cue Soraka entered the arena with the Kinkou order and took away the Angel, whose horrified stare never left her attacker.
Once she was out of the field , Andreas looked around him.
The angel's equipment had been destroyed… as had been his reputation. A quick glance at the crowd confirmed his suspicions. They all looked at him like he was a monster. Even the people he once called friends.
If he was to be a monster , at least he would need to act the part.
"If anyone else wants to break the rules, I will be in my room." He screamed walking towards the exit. " But next time I won't be so merciful!"
(GORE ENDS HERE. TL;DR : They fight. Kayle gets her ass handed to her , loses her wings, everyone fears the Bane)
It had been two weeks since the incident in the Coliseum.
The matches had been stopped as both him and Kayle healed.
He hadn't left the room in all that time. He was slightly happy to know that his Rabans could still socialize with other people. At first they didn't know how , but he came up with a plan which they reluctantly accepted. They were to act as slaves , and Bane would be their master. To help with the plan , they now wore shackles in their necks.
Through them , he learned how the rest of the champions felt about him. Most of them were terrified of him , and couldn't believe that someone like him could have tricked them. Others didn't believe it could be so simply , and were looking for a deeper explanation. And the people that knew of the plan? They had been trying to get in contact with him , but he refused to take any visits.
How could he have done something like that to a close friend?
He was horrified of his own actions.
But what scared him the most?
The fact that a small part of him enjoyed it.
A knock on the door.
"Bane , come on! Open up!" Morgana said from the other side.
He stood up and walked towards the door , but when his hand was about to reach the doorknob he stopped.
Morgana realized something was wrong and asked "Are you ok?"
"No , Morgana" He said with a sigh " I'm pretty fucking far from ok. How can I live with what I did to her?"
"Well, you could start by opening the door" Another voice said.
Surprised by the other voice he opened the door , to find that Morgana was accompanied by Kayle.
"Hey" She said with a weak smile.
"Hey" He answered back , moving away from the door ,signaling the angels to pass.
They calmly walked towards the couch and sat down one next to the other. They were both in casual clothes , which surprised him. Both were in jeans and in tank tops and neither of them had wings. They looked like normal human beings. For the most part.
As he calmly sat on the opposite side of them ,silence took over the room.
"So.. what now?" He asks.
Kayle was the first to speak.
"My sister explained the situation to me. I was angry at first but now….. I just want to thank you"
Andreas sighed while looking at the floor.
"I contacted the order as soon as I recovered. I told them that there was no evil left in Runaterra" She said smiling while looking at Morgana, and then looking back at him "I also told them of the loss of my wings. They said I was no longer capable of being the Juridicator without them , and as such I was discharged and I can live the rest of my life in Runaterra… with the rest of you"
Bane was still looking at the floor unable to look at the angel.
"Kayle." He finally said" I ate your wings."
"You did indeed" She said" But-"
"I ATE YOUR WINGS!" He screamed finally looking at her " I tried to save you! I wanted you to live but I- I never wanted that!"
He had began to cry and grabbed his head with hands.
"I hurt you much , how can you possible forgive me!" He asked.
For a moment there was only silence but then he could hear a jingle sound. As he looked back at her , he could see that she was holding a small necklace with a pendant. She was crying.
"You remember? It's Cammy's" She said with teary eyes " I was confused as to what I should do. Seek revenge, go home , forgive you…. And I found this. I had kept this in a box all of this centuries. And now I know what I have to do."
She then proceeded to put the necklace on.
"Put family first" She said hugging him.
They stood like that for a few seconds , crying in each other shoulders spewing apologizes of past mistakes , of in injuries caused , of promises broken and such. It seemed like ages when they finally broke apart.
"I'm sorry I cut your eye and your arm of" She said with a sheepish smile.
"I'm sorry I ate your wings" He said returning the smile "But what now?"
Morgana , who had been sobbing , finally spoke up.
"Now we wait for the tea" she said wiping the tears from her face.
Before he could ask what did she mean there was a knock on the door. He opened it to find Karma standing with a thermos flask of warm water and for cups in hand.
"I hope you didn't think that your newfound status would save you from our afternoon tea meeting" She said with a smile.
He was surprised at first but a giant smile appeared on his face.
"Wouldn't dream of it" He said opening the door allowing her to pass.
Some things never changed.
The Archmage sat on his desk , writing something down , when he suddenly stopped.
"Is it time then, Celestial?" He asked, apparently to no one.
Out of the shadows Bard came in , and made a low booming sound, as if it were an omen to the things to come.
The Archmage stood up.
"Ion." He said while two pair of white wings came out of his back "I haven't been called that in a very long time"
Casting a magic spell a screen appeared in front of him. The screen showed Karma , Morgana , Kayle and Bane having tea.
A sad sigh came out of Ion's mouth, followed by Bard's booming sound.
"I know that it is for the good of creation" He said "You may leave now"
Bard created a portal and left the Angel alone.
"I just hope that I can live , knowing what will be forced upon that man. He sacrificed everything to save a woman who had betrayed him" He said looking at Bane through the screen. " But I am sorry my old friend. The worst is yet to come"
Author's Note:
Guess who is back! It has been a while , huh? I hope you like the chapter.
The pendant thing from Kayle was an idea I had while looking at her Aether's wings skin. Many people forget that she has it.
And as you might have realized , this chapter was the reason the rating was changed to M. I have been playing god of war a lot , so that was certainly an inspiration. But it is important to the story. I also wanted to find a way to make Kayle's Legendary skin the 'real´Kayle in this universe , as well as Blackthorn Morgana.
I hope you enjoyed the chapter. I have been waiting to write about it for a while now.
As always, reviews appreciated.
See you soon!