To make up for my lack of speed these past couple of days...I wrote this one all today. I know a lot of you really want to see all the Projects reunited with their friends/family, but that would take a long time. I told you from the beginning this would focus more on Leo because her memory was most complete and this one is mostly her family getting back with her. Anyway, here's the second to last chapter.

Chapter 21

Home

There was so much pain, it was everywhere and it hurt to move. A soft groan left her throat as her golden eyes slowly blinked open.

"You're awake!" came a soft female voice as a flicker of violet came into being.

"…Soraka…" Leona croaked, darkness threatening to close over her again.

The Star Child smiled, putting her hands on Leona's shoulder and chanting under her breath, Leona gasped as cold flooded her being before being replaced with a soothing warmth.

"That better?" Soraka asked.

Leona gave a tired nod, leaning her head back.

"Where…" she whispered.

"You're in the Institute," came the gentle reply, "You're safe. They can't hurt you anymore,"

Leona gave a shuddering gasp as tears streamed down her face. They were free…home. They couldn't hurt her or the other Projects anymore. She reached towards the Star Child to thank her.

"Soraka…I…" Leona froze, staring at her hand, her golden eyes wide as she stared not at silver metal…

But pale skin.

"Mirror…" Leona croaked, frantically searching, "Please…"

Soraka put a hand on Leona's shoulder, catching her attention before handing her a small hand-held mirror. Leona's shaking hands brought it up to her face and she burst into tears as she touched her own cheek with a shaking hand.

There was no visor, no glass eyes, no metal…no white in her hair at all. Just abnormally pale skin, haunted golden eyes and fiery red hair. She looked like she'd been starved to death and depraved of any light with her hollow cheekbones and pasty skin…

But she was human. Not machine…

"What is this…" she whispered, touching her face again as happy tears streamed before turning to Soraka, "I…"

"You were very badly burned, Leona," Soraka told her, her own amber gaze looking away from the Radiant Dawn, "We had to have help to conceal that. I…"

"Stop lying," Leona growled, "What are you hiding, Soraka…"

"I…" she started only to turn towards Yasuo as he started waking up.

"What's going on…" he mumbled, his dark eyes locking on Soraka and Leona, "…Leo? Wha…was this a dream…?"

Leona tried to sit up, groaning in pain as her arms nearly gave out on her. Soraka tried to ease the pain and Leona brushed her off. Rakkorans did not need help, they could give help, but they didn't need anyone else to…

The Radiant Dawn froze, staring at her hand…it wasn't pale skin anymore. It was bright silver metal.

Leona gave a despairing cry, putting her helm in her servos as her white hair cascaded down around her and hot, angry tears streamed down her face. This wasn't fair! Why them!? Why couldn't this have been a dream!?

"It wasn't a dream then," Yasuo murmured, looking at his own hand and servo, "We really were destroyed and put back together,"

"To the other Champions and most Summoners, you all were just very badly burned," Soraka explained, "We…we couldn't change you back. I'm sorry,"

"The others," Yasuo started, "Do they…"

"You two were the only ones who woke up," Soraka explained, "The others are still asleep,"

Yasuo looked at Leona, whose form had reverted back to her normal, red-haired self.

"Let's not tell them," he suggested, "The way you're handling it right now is mild compared to how Zed or Fiora would take it. If they find out on their own, fine, but we can't tell them…"

Leona looked at her friend and gave a soft nod. It was for the best.

The others would not know.

"You can't keep us from her!" a male voice snapped, "She's our daughter! This isn't…"

"May I remind you she's recovering from a year long ordeal?" Soraka's gentle voice tried to soothe, "No one is…"

Leona's eyes opened, staring at the door to her room. Soraka had moved her to her room not long after the other Projects had woken up. All of them had been moved to their quarters so they could get some privacy…since reporters started to swarm the gates of the Institute so they could question the missing Champions.

"I swear, if you don't let us in…" the male voice warned.

"Alright, alright," Soraka sighed, opening the door, "But if she starts to decline, let me know immediately,"

"Thank you, Soraka," a female voice replied and Leona's eyes focused…just to see a red-haired woman and a silver-haired man.

"…Mama…Papa…" the Radiant Dawn croaked, her hand reaching out for the newcomers.

"My baby!" Astra cried, nearly teleporting to her daughter's side and holding her, crying into Leona's thin chest, "You're alive…you're alive…"

Leona closed her eyes, tears streaming as her father came to her side, hugging her as well.

"My little Sun," he whispered, kissing her abnormally warm forehead, his own tears streaming down his chiseled features.

"I've…missed you," Leona whispered, still sobbing, "So…so much…"

And with that, darkness started to take her.

Later that evening, Leona still slept, but the moonlight streamed through the open windows. Astra and Orion stood guard over their daughter, not wanting a repeat of the past year to happen. They nearly jumped out of their skin when a faint silver light shone in the steadily brightening moonlight. Diana stepped off the ledge, her lightly shod feet barely making a sound as she took the khopesh off her back and lay it on the floor.

"You came!" Astra smiled, kissing Diana's rune on her forehead.

"I had to make sure she got back safe," Diana replied, looking at her sleeping sister.

"What did they do to make you appear like you used to?" she wondered, gently putting a hand on Leona's forehead, "I'll have to ask…but I'm glad you're back, big sister,"

Leona gave a soft whimper, her neck muscles twitching as her nightmares plagued her.

"Is there anything I can do?" Diana asked.

"You found her, little Moon," Orion smiled, "You made sure she'd get home safe and sound. You've done everything. You kept your promise,"

Diana gave a faint smile, standing upright and looking towards the moon. She felt a hand on her shoulder and looked to see her mother standing next to her.

"Go on," she told her, "We'll take care of your sister, don't worry,"

"I'm not worried," Diana replied, looking back at Leona, "She's home now, the monster can't hurt her anymore,"

Astra gave a soft laugh, stepping further into the moonlight and revealing her own runed forehead.

"Solari or not, she's still your sister," Astra told her, "I'm glad you care about her,"

"She doesn't know about you…does she?" Diana asked, "That you're Lunari same as me,"

"No…but your father does know. I believe he's the only Solari that doesn't want us dead," Astra admitted, "But, I think that Leona wouldn't really want to kill us either…she's still upset that you killed her teachers though,"

"If she were in my place, she probably would have done the same,"

"She had some control over her powers,"

"She didn't used to," Diana countered, "Pantheon still has the burn,"

"You know she didn't mean it…"

"…I know, but she's had people teaching her how to control her powers…I haven't," Diana sighed, "You've tried…"

"I'm not the Moon's Chosen, Diana, only you and Leona have that privilege," Astra told her, "But, who knows? Maybe you two won't continue the cycle of one overpowering the other? Maybe you both will find peace and live in harmony,"

"One can hope," Diana smiled, looking out over the balcony again, "I have to go, I will see you again sometime, mother,"

"Be safe, Diana," Astra pleaded, "May the Moon watch over you,"

"And you as well," Diana nodded before leaping off the balcony and dashing across the courtyard with speed and grace unparalleled.

Present Day

"Viktor did this to us," Leona whispered, still shaking as Andrew put his hand on her shoulder, "Viktor turned us into monsters…freaks…"

Andrew closed his eyes, fists clenched. He'd had a feeling that Viktor had something to do with it. But no one would believe him and no one launched an investigation when he first suggested it. Now…

Leona's golden eyes flickered blue and Cira shook her head.

"We can't do anything now…can we?" she asked, "Viktor has a Chosen,"

Andrew gave a grim nod.

"I'm sorry,"

Cira's fists clenched and she bit her lip as she struggled to get to her feet.

"Life sure likes to screw with us, doesn't it," she growled bitterly, "I'm nearly killed, paralyzed and in a coma only to come back as a Champion and not even fully human anymore. I find out who's done this to us…and I. Can't. Freaking. Take. Him. OUT!"

She whirled around with a war cry, driving her fist through a mirror and sending silver shards crashing to the floor, not even noticing the scarlet blood and golden oil that dripped from her knuckles.

"Cira…" Andrew tried, only to get ignored as Cira stalked out the door, "Wait! Where are you going!?"

"Training," the Chosen spat.

Andrew gave a sigh, shaking his head. He knew from experience not to mess with red-heads…it never ended well.

Cira gave a war cry as she lashed out against the training dummy, her fists pounding against the leather with a rhythm that matched her racing, raging heart.

"…You don't have to be angry, Cira," Leona's soft voice told her, "It happened three years ago…there's no changing it now,"

"I don't care,"

Leona tried again as Cira took out the Zenith Blade and bisected the dummy, sending sand and cotton flying through the air.

"…What did that dummy do to you?" Leona asked, "Cira…there are other ways of getting out your anger. Well…I'm just glad you're not taking it out on Caleb,"

"Oh, make no mistake Leona," Cira snarled, punching another dummy, "I'm picturing Viktor's metal mug on each of these dummies,"

She then knocked the dummy's head clean off.

"…I can tell," Leona deadpanned, "Cira…"

"I'm not forgiving him," Cira snapped, "He took everything from you! Tortured you! Tore you apart! Hunted you down like a wild animal! I refuse to forgive him Leona! If he did that to me…would you forgive him!?"

Silence.

"I thought so," Cira huffed.

"Just because I don't answer doesn't mean I agree with you, Cira," Leona finally answered, "You told me once that forgiveness and mercy were more important than revenge. You are being hypocritical if you do not hold fast to that belief. You have a strong sense of justice, that's what I liked about you when I first saw you…but your sense of mercy and your kindness is what made me decide to Choose you,"

Cira stopped, taking a deep breath…

And then laughing, long and loud.

"Ah, I can't be mad at you, can I?" she asked, "You're right, Leona, I'm being a fool…what do you suggest we do?"

"We need to make sure this never happens again," Leona said firmly, "I highly doubt Caleb agrees with Viktor…he doesn't strike me as a sadist,"

"Glad you see that too,"

"We'll have to run it past Andrew…but I say that if he tries this again and somehow manages to overpower Caleb…we will have to have a little 'chat' with him,"

"And destroy the lab and confiscate the research with great viciousness?" Cira asked.

"We'll have to see if Jayce would like to join us on that…but I think that is fair…considering what we could do,"

"You're a little too nice for your own good, Leona,"

"But what else can we do since Viktor has Chosen?"

"…You're right," Cira sighed, "Let's find Andrew…I'm sure that Zayne and Victoria will be on our side for this,"

"I couldn't agree more,"

I will be finishing it up with one more chapter. That one is where the truth of the Projects comes out. Everyone knows what they are...but they're keeping to themselves who did it because it's not fair to Viktor's Chosen, Caleb Tompkins. Speaking of Caleb...you'll get to see him very soon (not in this story though!). I have two Champions/Chosens lined up after I finish the next chapter and after that? Who knows. Anyway, next time is a Summoners Rift fight, something happens and the Projects are revealed to the rest of the Champions and Summoners.

Anyway, hope you liked it. If you did, please let me know!

Qui vállë tóquetë, ván tecë (If no review comes from y'all; no story comes from me)

Máriessë ar mára tecië

Farewell and fair writing

Elhini Prime signing off.