Author's Note: Thank you, well criticism is welcome. I found myself inspired recently so I decided to write a light little story. I gave Lux a bit of spunk to suit her own more troubled arc. If you think my characterization is unsound, I'd be happy to hear from you in the reviews. Also, please let me know if I'm massively violating any established lore, as there's quite a bit and I may have missed some things T_T Your feedback is very important to me and I will do my best to respond to everything. Thank you!
-Zad
Section 1
(Lux's personal quarters, Crownguard estate)
Lux was hunched over her wardrobe, gulping deep breaths. Her vision almost appeared to throb as she became intently aware of the hammering of her heart like a prisoner bashing on the bars of her ribcage.
Every feeling in the universe seemed to be rushing through her. But mostly, was the ocean of anger and hurt that was rising, threatening to drown her completely.
Power sizzled at her fingertips, rising with her boiling emotions, threatening to explode with an explosion of electric energy.
Lux let out a cry of frustration, slamming her fist into the mirror, which cracked with the reckless strike. The pain shot through her entire arm.
With the worst of it passed, Lux collapsed onto her dresser. Breathing deep, frustrated breaths.
The magic that threatened to erupt continued to glow at her fingers.
She couldn't hold it back a second longer. She cast a lonesome look at the door as her latent magic danced upon her palms.
She desperately hoped no one would come through that door.
And at the same time, she wanted them to come in and see... see just how tired she was. So they could see the toll that this cage of a life was putting onto her.
What exactly … am I supposed to do?
If I asked you... what would you say?
Chapter 2
(Later, half a day's ride into the countryside)
Lux felt the rush of air blasting by her as she urged her horse, Starfire, onward with abandon.
A small Demacian town grew in size as she approached, the hint of a smokestack or two giving way to homes, but no smoke rose from them. No lanterns lit the streets.
Despite the rapidly setting sun, Lux found a place to tie Starfire at the outskirts, an empty stall with some fresh hay. Starfire began to munch happily, and as he chewed, he cast a So What? Look her way.
"Yeah. Yeah. Hate to bother you," Lux said with a dry laugh, giving the beast a loving pat on his head. She heard her lonely chuckle echo off the stone wall surface of the building beside her. Apart from that, there were no sounds. It was eerily quiet. She glanced about, but nothing stirred.
She walked past the house, waiting for the stablemaster to name his price, to superimpose himself between her and the road until a coin had been passed his way, but no one from the house stirred.
"Hello," Lux called out cautiously. "Lady from the capitol. Purse full of coin!"
Even in the growing darkness, the house stood quiet, empty, and without a single candle. The only thing that greeted her was the wandering of the breeze.
It is just as the lady said.
Lux had been warned that there would be trouble here... magical trouble. It could be a trap, of course, from any number of enemies. Some of these enemies had been very recently known as friends. Others, had been court enemies to her family for generations...
"Halt." Said a stern female voice.
Lux turned with surprise, reading her arms.
A cloaked figure stepped forward, crossbow pointed with deadly stillness despite the steady movements of her long legs.
"Strange of you to not reach for the sword at your side and to ready your hands instead," said the cloaked woman, a hint of humor in her voice. "Especially strange in Demacia."
Lux laughed nervously, still ready to cast a shield at a moments notice, Lux feigned more of a hands up, don't shoot posture and put up a disarming, polite smile. "Do I... know you?" Lux asked.
The woman's face was obscured behind her weapon, her figure mostly concealed behind blue and red fabric. "Maybe you do, Luxanna. Maybe you do." She lowered her weapon. "Now tell me, what brings a girl like you out to a place like this?"
Lux grimaced, finally recognizing the robed woman beneath her glasses. "What is that supposed to mean, Shauna Vayne?"
"I... uhm... look Luxanna, we aren't meeting at some royal dance here!"
"I know that!"
"It's dangerous." Vayne retorted sharply.
"I know that too!" Lux exclaimed. "That's why I'm here. To help!"
Vayne let out a defeated sigh. "Huh... well I'd heard some rumors that you fought for the kingdom before, I suppose. Even if you don't exactly look the part."
"Oh, I suppose I'm supposed to look more like you?" Lux quickly glanced up and down Vayne's outfit. A little much, wouldn't you say?
Vayne shifted her weight awkwardly and shook her head, apparently deciding against going any further into this sibling-style bickering that apparently Lux was quite skilled at.
"There, at the center of town. Do you see that glow?"
"Sure do."
"That's dark magic. And that is why I'm here... and I suppose why you are here as well. If you insist on tagging along, that's where I'm headed." Vayne started putting up fingers as she made a series of commands as if she were scolding a child. "Don't get in my way. Don't walk into my field of fire. Don't do anything stupid."
"Sounds like a plan!" Lux replied with a quick nod.
The two walked in relative quiet for a few minutes, before Lux broke the silence. "You know there is a serious problem about the two of us teaming up out here, Vayne."
"Is there?" Vayne replied dryly.
Lux's voice took a somber tone. "Our outfits definitely do not match. I mean you are going for something way different than me!"
"You know this crossbow is still loaded?" Vayne replied tersely, only to be met by a light giggle.
"It's a joke, Vayne... to lighten the mood."
Vayne looked away from the noblewoman, shaking her head. "Unbelievable," she muttered.
Just a step further and she stopped, clenching her weapon.
Lux closed her eyes, feeling the approach of dark magic. "Something dark is approaching..."
Vayne readied her crossbow. "Is that shortsword just for show, blondie?"
Lux laughed and replied in a sing-song voice. "It's actually just a prop, honestly."
Vayne narrowed her eyes. "You chose NOW to tell me that?"
On all sides of the two women, shadows between the abandoned buildings seemed to grow, until the shadows themselves took shape and began to approach on four legs. Red, wolf-like eyes appeared on the creatures as magical fangs made of sharpened darkness glistened in the starlight.
"Shadow beasts," Vayne warned.
Without wasting another second, Vayne sprang into action. "Down boy!" she snarled, and with a THRUM her crossbow fired square into the center of the first shape. The snarling shadow-wolf faded as the silver bolt shot through. Vayne's practiced hands were pulling a second bolt when her quiver, when she paused, watching the shadow of the very wolf she'd struck came back together again.
"They regenerate! My silver bolts won't cut it."
She stepped closer to Lux, firmly grasping her around the waist.
Lux squirmed. "Uhh... Vayne."
"Hold still!" Vayne said authoritatively.
From four different sides, the shadow wolves sprang into action, leaping to attack the pair simultaneously.
"Now!" Vayne muttered, pulling Lux backwards. The two toppled back over a stone wall as the shadows converged where they'd been, but Vayne had left something behind for them. She pulled Lux into the crevice beneath the shadow of the wall.
There was an explosion as powderized silver and hot shrapnel filled the air. As the metal shards rained to the ground, Vayne stole a glance over the wall and found that the four shadow wolves had been destroyed.
"I suppose that takes care of that," she said.
Lux pushed Vayne off of her, bringing herself back upright, brushing the mud from her clothes. "Uhh... thanks Vayne."
"Uhh... you're welcome!" Vayne snapped back, "What were you planning, sunshine? Smiling at them?"
But the two women only had a few moments to annoy each other before additional shadows approached.
"There's more of them," Lux said warningly.
Vayne glanced over to Lux with a shrug. "I don't have any more bombs."
"I don't think we'll outrun them..."
"We'll figure something out," Vayne said firmly, pulling out a silver dagger.
"Wait!" Lux said holding up her hand, she looked over to Vayne with pleading eyes, "If I save your life, can you keep a secret?"
Vayne rolled her eyes. "Blondie, if you save my life, I'll marry you."
Lux grinned. "Promise?"
As the wolves bounded forward, Lux brought her hands together. Magical power surged through her, bringing her feet off the ground as Vayne watched. With her cape fluttering behind her, Lux blasted the entire area with light magic. "BY THE LIGHT!"
With howls of pain, the shadows melted away as a light bright enough to make Vayne wince and avert her gaze flashed in the night. Lux landed gently, turned smiling to Vayne and struck a pose holding up a finger gun.
"Okay Lux..." Vayne muttered, nodding approvingly. "That was something."
Lux, placing one of her hands firmly on her hip, reached out with the other. "Where's my ring?"
Vayne chuckled awkwardly, loaded another bolt into her crossbow and nodded her head. "Shall we?"
"We shall!" Lux said, giving a genuine smile.
It's crazy, Lux thought to herself, but I'm actually feeling a lot better tonight! I just wonder what's at the core of all this dark magic stuff... She glanced at the stone-faced taller woman walking beside her. I can trust her, right? I mean it's not like she has a lot friends...