Having to deal with a near death experience is never easy and it never turns out how you will think. So how will Lux deal with it and how will it impact her relationships? Find out.
Chapter 15 - Silent and Frightening
Lux shot up from her pillows yet again. Despite the fact that is was almost 5 days ago, she was still having the same dream. Over and over again she saw Unia with her cannon, ticket thing, whatever to her head and it almost ready to shoot. If it hadn't been for Caitlyn, Lux knew she would probably be dead, or at the very least, severely injured. Wiping her forehead from the sweat that had built up, she carefully got out of bed and made her way down the hall to the bathroom. Putting her hands on the counter, she looked at herself and tried again to come to grips with reality, but it was hard. After everything she had been through, that was probably the worst. The fact she kept waking up with the same nightmare wasn't helping. With a groan, she went back to bed, thankful it was weekend.
The following morning found Janna and Poppy in the tower ready to practice and Lux was still not showing up, despite the fact it was almost noon. Powering down they both left and headed to her house.
"Sorry girls. Lux is having a bad day. She got up the middle of the night again and couldn't fall back asleep until after the sun was up. Do either of you know what is going on? She hasn't been like this before."
Poppy and Janna just exchanged glances, and knowing exactly what was going on and not being able to say it was probably killing all three of them. Especially after what happened in the last fight, both of them knew that Lux would take time to get over it, but the fact she still wasn't sleeping was definitely worrying.
"Sorry, but we don't. She isn't talking to us about it. Hopefully she'll get over it in time." Janna said, trying to keep her voice from betraying themselves.
"I hope so. Because this can't keep going on. Maybe the aftermath from all of those attacks she's been exposed to are finally hitting. I know just about every therapist in the city is booked solid. Maybe once she gets up, I can have her meet you guys somewhere where she can talk to."
"We'll try. But we can't make any promises. We'll be at the library once she gets up." Poppy said as they both turned away and headed back down the front walk and back to the tower.
Lux meanwhile was at the top of the stairs and listened to the whole conversation. In the back of her mind, she knew they were right and she needed to talk to someone, but apart from Nasus, Poppy, Janna, and Vel'Koz, she had no one to talk to. If she told anyone in her family, they would go crazy and even Amy couldn't be trusted. Anyone she told outside their little circle would be in danger, or they wouldn't believe her which would be even worse.
Making her way back down the hall to the bathroom, Lux knew that she had a job to do and it was one she accepted. Grabbing her brush, she ran it through her hair as she finally got ready for the day.
"I still don't understand how she feels she can't talk to us." Poppy said, swinging her hammer into a training dummy that Nasus was guarding. Rolling, Poppy got another hit before he cut her off for a third.
"Think about it Poppy. The only people she can talk to are right here. We are going through the same things. So yes, while we will understand, she needs to talk to someone else. Someone who isn't here fighting with us. The problem is that anyone she tells that isn't here won't understand, won't believe her, and will be put in danger either way." Janna replied as she kept Poppy shielded from Nasus' counter attacks while trying to get him in a twister.
"Don't forget she is also the leader of the team. And that puts even more pressure on her. She thinks she don't wake us up when gets up the middle of the night, but we hear and see everything." Dorcha said from a nearby bench watching them.
"The fact she also basically had a gun to her head probably isn't helping with that. Just give her time and if she comes to you to talk, just listen or even sit there." Nasus added as he again tried to pin Poppy between the wall and himself, and once again failed.
"I know, but I just like a direct approach. I'm not good with waiting." Poppy said dodging out of the way again.
"She just needs time. Maybe if you don't press it like you have been it might help." Solas suggested as he turned to keep following the engagement.
"I guess." Poppy said as she landed a final hit on the dummy ending the exercise. She and Janna powered down while Nasus made his way downstairs. Lux still wasn't there, but she knew that it would be a matter of time before she said something. Janna looked at her phone to see a text from Lux saying she apologized for missing practice, but she needed a walk to clear her head. Janna smiled as that might help but privately she knew that the growing cold they all had been feeling over the last few days was coming to a head.
On the river walk, Lux was just blending in with people and following the ebb and flow eventually coming to rest on a bench overlooking city hall and put her head in her hands. 'I can't continue to do this.' She again thought to herself as she gauzed over the river. She felt the bench shift and saw a familiar face sitting there.
"I didn't expect to see you here Lux. Something wrong?"
"Just needed to clear my head." She replied.
"You know you have mom and dad worried about you right?" Garen said turning to his younger sister.
"I know, but this is something I have to sort out on my own." Lux said with her voice becoming a bit raised.
"I understand that, and they do as well, but Lux what is it that you can't tell us? They are worried about bad. Now I know you better, but honestly, if there is something that you don't want to tell them, you can tell me. You know I care about you. Even if I'm bad at showing it at times." Garen put his arm around his sister and she just put her head on his shoulder.
The thoughts that were racing through Lux's head were too numerous to count. She knew that if she told Garen, he would indeed keep it a secret, but that would also put him in danger. Deciding that she couldn't keep hiding something, she thought for a bit about how to word it carefully to avoid anything coming back to her, Janna, or Poppy and finally shifted and Garen took his arm back.
"I guess I can say something. I have a friend, someone you don't know very well. They has a lot of responsibility on their shoulders and recently dealt with a near death experience. It seems to be compounding the problem and while all of these recent attacks haven't done much for my well being, they were almost crushed by a building in the last attack."
"I see. Well, honestly you are a good friend by being there for them, but you can't let their problems rub off on you. You are doing a lot by just being there. But if you let their problems become yours then you aren't helping them, you are just making it worse for yourself. I have to meet Jayce and others for a game, but again if you feel like talking again, just let me know." Garen got up and after giving Lux a pat on the shoulder, she got up and gave him a hug. Smiling, Garen walked away thinking he had helped. In reality, he didn't help as much as he thought he did.
It was as Lux sat back down did a wave of cold wash over her. Knowing the void surfaced again, she quickly grabbed her phone to see where it was. Neither Janna or Poppy said anything, but given its power, she knew it was close. On top of that the screaming coming from further down the river was all she needed to go and find a secluded spot. Finally finding one, she grabbed her locket. "Star Guardian Power Up." Transformed, Lux ran right to the source of the commotion.
In the middle of the intersection there was a crazy snake stopping cars and pulling people out of them. "Your energy for the void." It said, pulling yet another driver out. Lux waited for the creature to drop him before lashing out with her binding. Connecting, she threw a few bolts from her baton as she leaped out of the tree she was hiding in and landed carefully on the pavement.
"Seriously, you guys just don't get any less ugly. Now stop all of this. I am a Star Guardians you crazy monster. Sworn to defend the universe against all those who would throw it into chaos. And that means you."
"My master said you would say that. Now you are all alone so you can't be trying to distract me. So I'll just bite you for your energy guardian." No sooner than the creature moved did it hit with another binding as Lux was more than prepared for it. Throwing a singularity, Lux kept moving and tiring out the creature while she dodged around it.
Just down the street, Poppy, Janna, and Debonair were racing to the fight, but stopped short as they saw how Lux was going on her own. They all looked at each other and fanned out to surround the creature. It was clear Lux had a bone to pick, and they weren't going to interfere. Lux noticed this as she threw yet another singularity, which detonated in the creature's face. Now clearly enraged, it moved to attack Janna, who just flung a twister at it while Lux moved in with a few bolts from her baton and a binding to make sure it stayed rooted. Knowing what was coming, Janna moved out of the way.
Lux focused her powers and threw her baton in the air. "Final Spark." With a beam of light, the monster was quickly nothing more than dust and what little energy it had managed to collect was quickly smashed by Poppy, who seemed to be upset that she didn't get in on the fighting. Lux turned to see Debonair gone and Janna and Poppy coming over to her.
"Nice plays. You still have it in you huh?" Poppy said, giving Lux a playful jab in the hip, which resulted in Lux almost falling down. Catching herself at the last minute, she turned to smile.
"I guess. I know I should have waited but something told me to go."
"Don't apologize, you managed to stop it before it got worse. Now can we get out of here before the police…or not. Run!" Janna said looking over Lux's shoulder. Lux and Poppy turned and sprinted off after Janna who lead them on a roundabout route to the Tower. Once they were back, they all powered down and Lux took a seat at the table.
"You still up for some practice?" Poppy asked Janna and Lux.
"Give us a few minutes Poppy, but sure." Janna said, turning to Lux. She nodded in reply.
In her nest, Rek'Sai was fuming. She didn't get anything from the last voidling and she knew she was going to pay for that. Dearly. Pacing around, she struggled to come up with something to excuse her actions and what happened but it wasn't until she was pacing around so lost in through that she rammed into the wall, did it occur to her. Smiling, she quickly set off to the moon.
Malzahar's throne room was always intimidating, but Rek'Sai knew that she would have something that would at least not get Malzahar so angry. Stepping into the room, she noticed everyone around, and Cho'Gath licking his lips. Smiling at the enormous voidling, she turned to Malzahar.
"Rek'Sai your last engagement was a complete disappointment. You failed to get anything out of it. So what do you have to say for yourself?" He roared.
"Oh great prophet. I do have something that is of interest. It actually wouldn't have been possible to see it without the failure."
"Oh this will be good. In failing you discover something to make it worthwhile" Cho'Gath said. Laughing as he did so.
"Indeed Rek'Sai, he does have a point. What did you find?" Malzahar was actually looking with interest. Maybe there was something.
"Well as you know, the lead guardian showed up before the others. In fact she was fighting long before the others even showed up. For just about every fight after other Guardians were discovered, they have always shown up together. This time they didn't. In fact, you could call her actions reckless." Rek'Sai let that hang for a second while looking around. Malzahar looked pleasantly surprised. Cho'Gath was clearly impressed with her reasoning. Kha'Zix nodded with approval. Kog"Maw was sniffing around for something to eat, but nodded as Rek'Sai turned her gaze to him. The Herald also nodded in approval.
Knowing she had them, Rek'Sai didn't waste another second. "I believe she is still suffering from that near death experience from Unia. Even in death she still does damage. Now that guardian will continue to make reckless decisions and when the time is right, we strike. Eliminate her fellow guardians, then that idiot who keeps coming around. She will be alone, and then we eliminate them one by one."
Malzahar was usually extremely difficult to read in situations like this, but his face cracked with a smile. "Excellent plan Rek'Sai. Until then, you have to do something to keep her off guard. We can't risk more attacks right now so I suggest you do some lifting and collect some energy. Not much. Just enough to draw them out and force this streak."
"I shall begin tomorrow. Attacking again today would be a tactical misstep." Rek'Sai responded walking for the door as she finished."
Malzahar watched her leave and the throne room empty out. Turning to Cho'Gath, his smile fell a little.
"Concerns Prophet?" Cho'Gath asked seeing his face.
"Indeed. She needs to be extremely careful. She goes too hard, the guardian will get the sense knocked back into her. Too soft, and she will realize what is going on. It has to be a careful balancing act. I don't doubt Rek'Sai can handle it, but it's more about timing than anything."
"Is there anything we can do to help?" Cho'Gath asked.
Malzahar turned to Cho'Gath with a questioning gaze. An offer of help from his wasn't ever without entanglements. Malzahar was not going to let Cho'Gath sabotage someone else, at least not without his approval, but considering the options before him, and the situation they were in, any "help" was only going to be detrimental. "I think if she is to fail, she should fail on her own. After all, one way or the other, if you get involved and she fails, then you would be held responsible as well. Maybe more so depending on how I feel about things turned out."
"On that note, I will take my leave then." Cho'Gath walked out, but Malzahar knew that he would probably try something and made a note to keep an eye on him. Rek'Sai's plan was good, but it also one that wouldn't succeed with interference. Whether that interference be helpful or detrimental. He knew that he might be helping the guardians in the process, but it was a risk he would have to take.
"This situation gets more complicated by the minute." Malzahar left his throne room to make sure Cho'Gath didn't interfere.
"This situation just doesn't get any less complicated." Lux said in frustration as they watched Vel'Koz study the remains of the last seeker. "How can they be getting stronger when they have less time to…um grow?"
"Simple. Their size and power is relative to the person itself. If they are pouring all of their energy into whatever drives them, then it is easy for them to get stronger faster." Lux just put her head down as a response. "I'm sorry but whoever Rek'Sai has targeted next will have to be spotted as quickly as possible." Lux just groaned, while Poppy and Janna rolled their eyes. Their practice had gone well, but they both noticed Lux's reckless streak and they knew it wouldn't end soon. They had to bring her down or it would cost them in the next fight.
"Well either way, I'm not sensing anything right now, so perhaps we should at least get a good night of sleep. After all, we do have school tomorrow." Janna said trying to defuse the situation and perhaps get Lux out of the slump she was in. Clearly it wasn't working as her frustration was showing as she was the first one out while Janna and Poppy were slow to leave.
"She's going to get us all in trouble with that attitude." Poppy said, once she was clear that Lux was out of the building.
"I know, but that fight really affected her. We have to be careful since I'm sure Rek'Sai noticed it during the last fight. We have to watch her and keep an eye on the situation. I know we are probably going to do something, but if she doesn't snap herself out of this, we can't. She has to sort it out herself." Janna replied. The amount of worry in her voice wasn't lost on Poppy however.
"I know, but I'm worried about her. I worry about my friends, but I'm even more worried when my butt is on the line too." Poppy said with both worry and frustration in her voice. "You sure there is nothing we can do?"
"No. this is something she has to overcome herself. If we try and help, we aren't going to help. We'll just do more damage in the long run." Janna said as she hung her head.
"We'll try to keep an eye on her during the day tomorrow and while she sleeps, but there is also only so much we can do. This really hit her hard and she needs both your support, your understanding, and her space." Dorcha said as she noticed the looks of helpless between the two Guardians.
"Yeah. We'll do our best, but honestly she just needs time." Solas said.
"My worry is how much time. Again, we'll just have to watch her. For now, let's just go home." Janna said as she reached for her bag. Poppy just nodded as a reply and they both grabbed their bags and headed out.
Lux's mind was on overdrive as she quickly found herself jogging home. Arriving home a lot earlier than she expected, Lux went to her room and after putting down her bag, she did something she rarely did. She turned right around, and after changing into shorts, she left again and decided a run might just tire her out enough to have a peaceful night's sleep. After running for an hour, she came home, ate dinner, and was asleep before she knew it.
Dorcha and Solas were keeping watch over her during the evening and what they noticed wasn't helping them at all. She was still thrashing about in her sleep and they turned to each other.
"Let me try something." Dorcha hopped onto Lux's bed and curled up right next to her arm. Within a few seconds, Lux shifted to bring her other arm on top of Dorcha and after a few seconds, it moved to be next to her. Solas, seeing something, hopped down and settled down next to Dorcha and they both knew that if this stopped the trashing at least, she might have better dreams.
The following morning saw Lux miss her alarm and Dorcha and Solas doing nothing to get her to move. They knew that her mother would take care of that.
"Luxanna get up you are going to be late! Again!" Almost jumping out of bed, Lux turned to the clock and groaned. Dorcha and Solas settled back down and stayed out of her way but before they knew it, Lux was already dressed and sprinting out the door with her bag on her shoulder. Dorcha and Solas sprinted off after her and managed to get into her bag as she stopped briefly to grab something to eat on the way.
On the way to school, Janna walked behind Lux at a distance to observe her and noticed that her pace was faster than normal, but Janna saw Amy approach and Lux almost stopped to wait for her friend. Janna smiled a bit as she maintained her distance.
"Lux! Come on girl. You haven't responded to me all weekend. I'm worried about you." Amy out of the corner of her eye noticed Janna, but decided to keep that to herself. "And I'm sure I'm not the only one. What's going on?"
"Sorry. Just a lot of stress right now and I'm not sleeping very well." Lux replied coming to a stop. When she started walking again with Amy, her pace was noticeably slower. "I can't see to get a good night's sleep lately. Last night was better, but still having a similar dream again and again."
"Feel like talking about it? You are clearly holding something back." Amy said as she poked Lux in the shoulder.
Lux just smiled. "It's just during that last major fight, not the one in the park yesterday the previous one. I was almost crushed by some debris and it is still bothering me. I guess I just can't let it go." Lux said. 'Well actually I was almost killed by a cannon to the face, but you can't know that' Lux thought privately to herself.
"Look. You have to let it go. You had an experience and it is going to come back for a while. Just know you have friends who care about you. Now how about going to the mall after school to get your mind off everything. And that isn't a question and I won't take no for an answer."
Lux just smiled and gave Amy a hug. "Thanks. I guess that wouldn't be a bad idea. But I have things…"
"I said I'm not taking no for an answer and don't make me take your phone and call other friends and we will make you."
Lux just sighed and smiled. "Fine. You win."
"Good." Amy and Lux started walking towards school at a decent pace and Janna split off to get to her school.
During the day, Lux's mind kept relaxing as she remembered the times before all of this started and she wasn't normal anymore. She kept looking around and noticed Amy keeping an eye on her all day. While she was in the halls and during lunch, Lux noticed Poppy doing the same thing. She knew they were going to watch her, but she also knew that none of them went through what she did and they had no idea what she was going through.
After school, Lux and Amy went through the mall, but as the thoughts of the recent battle came rushing back, Lux found herself putting on a convincing face to fool Amy, but she knew that Amy knew her heart wasn't in it. She kept her act until they parted and even then Lux found it hard to resist that she didn't have fun. Walking into her room, she sat in the chair near her computer, and just did nothing.
"Dorcha? You there?" Lux asked as the poro emerged.
"I'm here. What is it?"
"How do you transfer powers?" The statement took Dorcha aback.
"It is a complicated process, but a viable candidate has to be found first. Until then, you have to live up to what you agreed to do." Dorcha said, keeping her voice steady, but in her own mind, she knew that Lux hit the wall that most Guardians do at one point or another. Usually.
"I guess I really didn't know what I was signing up for all that time ago did I? I miss being normal and having to worry about this every minute."
"Lux just because you are the leader, doesn't mean you don't have support. Solas, Janna, Zephyr, Poppy, Vel'Koz, Nasus, and I are all here to help you. You are not alone in this fight." Dorcha's voice now betrayed her fear and worry.
Lux turned her chair and looked carefully at the poro on her bed. Making a move over movement with her hand, Dorcha jumped aside and Lux just fell into bed. Dorcha nudged up to Lux and hoped that her presence would calm the young Guardian. As Solas came in, he saw what was going on, and nudged up next to Lux as well.
Poppy and Janna were not far either. Outside Lux's house, they were keeping a careful eye on her. Knowing that she was in dire straits wasn't helping their situation especially when they knew that another attack would be sooner rather than later. Zephyr hopped down from Lux's bedroom and settled on Janna's shoulder.
"She's sleeping. Dorcha and Solas are next to her and hopefully it will be enough to keep her calm, but that really affected her more than I thought it would. She's in a bad area and the problem is that she will have to find her own way out. We can't help her at this point but to be there when she is ready." Both Janna and Poppy just nodded and headed off to their residences.
That night, Rek'Sai was carefully moving through the city looking for the perfect target. Eventually sensing a large energy presense, she moved towards it. Unburrowing was a risk, even in a protected area, but she knew she had to risk it. What she saw, would delight her. It was a festival that would open the next day. Noticing the rather large structure on the edge, she moved closer.
"Be careful with all of that would you? If we move it too much then we risk upsetting everything."
"Yeah yeah I know."
"Sure Jack. Sure you do."
"Andrew can it. I'm doing my best."
"Just remember, that it is my job to fix anything you break, and to then run it tomorrow. I'd rather not be here all night." Rek'Sai noticed that the one on the ground, Jack, would be the one running the structure, so she decided to look inside once they were all gone.
Patience wasn't something that voidlings had been known for, but she knew that the time would be worth it. The energy coming off this guy was incredible and she had to capture it, and anything else in her way. After another two hours, they all finally left and the site was ready. Rek'Sai carefully moved about and once inside the structure, she was delighted. It would be the perfect trap for their little terrified guardian. She could easily twist this with the right seeker and that is what she set out to accomplish. Tracking down Jack wasn't hard, and once she was in position, placed her seeker to let it grow overnight.
"Bad dreams." Rek'Sai said as she moved to her nest to wait for the next day where she might finally break one of the guardians. Permanently.
The following saw Lux, Janna, and Poppy waking up with a shiver of cold. All three of them knew that a seeker was active, but if anything, it just caused Lux to settle back into her bed. Dorcha and Solas had kept a careful eye on Lux all night, but they were still worried. More so when she didn't get out of bed and just turned around and curled back up.
They quickly pretend to be just waking up as Lux's mom popped her head inside and noticed Lux still asleep. She sighed and decided to call Lux out. Seeing the two poros however made her roll her eyes as Dorcha and Solas quickly looked at her with the classic faces and she grabbed the two of them and brought them downstairs for some food.
Janna was worried when she didn't see Lux on her morning walk to school. She texted Poppy to see if she would be in class but what Janna saw next made her spirits sink even more. Amy was looking around for Lux but just continued walking as she saw that Lux clearly wasn't coming. Janna moved quickly to catch up.
"Amy right?" Janna asked finally catching up.
"Yeah. You're Janna right? Have you heard from Lux? We usually walk to school together but she is a no show this morning." Amy replied.
"No. I was hoping you saw her." Janna said trying to keep her voice from betraying her panic.
"She and I went to the mall yesterday, but it was clear her heart wasn't in it. She knows how to put on a brave face, but it still wasn't enough. I've known her for years, and I've never seen her like this. Know anything that I don't?" Amy turned to Janna properly with a face that betrayed her genuine worry. Janna had to think for a second on how to word it before she responded. Deciding to say nothing however was the best option.
"Nothing. She isn't talking much after the last attack. I think something happened, but she isn't talking. I was hoping you would know more, but I guess not. We'll just have to be there when she is ready." Janna said, being very careful with her voice and with what she said.
"I guess. Hopefully she will come around. It's odd since a cooler day like this would normally cause her to be much more active." Amy ended on that and headed inside. Janna saw Poppy who just shrugged as she followed her in. Janna looked at her watch and carefully set off to her own school, coming up with a late excuse along the way.
Lux for her part didn't get out of bed until almost noon and immediately regretted it. Seeing Dorcha and Solas sleeping, she carefully got dressed and headed out. Felling the cold around, Lux knew that it would be a bad idea to go by herself in search of the source, but she knew that if she didn't do something soon, she would never get over that lingering fear she kept having to deal with. She set off on a search of the city to find the source.
However, as much as she tried to get away unnoticed, Dorcha and Solas noticed her departure, and quickly took off after Lux, following her at a distance. Knowing that at any time, they might have to get Janna and Poppy to assist Lux, they kept apart from each other as well so that at least one of them would get out and get the others. Lux was clearly on a mission and all three of them kept following the cold, until they got to the festival grounds.
"Well here we go. Whatever it is, it's coming from in there. Now shut it down before it gets worse." Lux said to herself and walked in. Despite the fact it was a school day, there were a lot of people there. Lux was able to blend in a lot easier than she thought she would. While she looked forward to this every year, she was here on a mission. As she walked around, the cold was almost paralyzing. She somehow managed to keep a straight face and keep from shivering as she eventually came across the core.
Lux noticed the funhouse, which she had really just outgrown but it was almost like a freezer near it for her. Knowing the seeker and possibly Rek'Sai would be looking out for someone shivering with cold, she kept it together, if only just. Lux kept an eye on the guy running it and he was unusually aggressive getting people inside, but she noticed they came out again, if a bit more relaxed or drained.
"She's only taking a bit with every group. Clever. That means that this seeker isn't very strong. But I can't transform in there. So I'll have to do it out here and then rush in. I also can't create a scene. Great what to do?" Lux said quietly to herself as she continued to pace around the festival. She could hear the seeker calling to more and he almost seemed hypnotic as more people kept going. Eventually an idea hit her and quickly looked around but realized she left it back in her room. Sprinting home, she grabbed the masking bracelet and then running back to the festival.
Running her hand across the bracelet, it lit up and signaled it was ready. "Transform me into a safety inspector." Once she regained her senses, Lux looked and it was very convincing. Walking towards the funhouse, the seeker turned to look at her, and it was clear that it wasn't expecting this.
"Park Service Department. I'm here to do an inspection." Lux said as she came up. It was clear that there was already an inspection but she stood her ground, despite being almost frozen from the cold.
"We've had an inspection already now I have a job to do so…"
"So there were a few issues with the first one. Now either I can do my job or I shut you down. Take your pick. You think I'd rather be enjoying this rather than doing this?" Lux was surprised at how that came out but her face and voice didn't betray her nerves.
"Fine. Just do it quickly. Need privacy?" Clearly it suspected something. Lux knowing the host was probably not aware of what was going on, tried to keep this from being too confined.
"No. It shouldn't take long. I'll get started and get out of your hair quickly." And with that she walked inside before it could ask another question. Moving around the house, it was clear the operation was in full swing, but she also had to find the heart and shut down the collection apparatus.
Meanwhile Dorcha and Solas, knowing what was coming, quickly headed to get Poppy and Janna and after pulling a few tricks, they managed to get them out of class. Meeting up at a grove of trees Dorcha and Solas caught their breath before talking to the two Guardians.
"Lux found the source of the cold. It's the funhouse at the festival. It seems like Rek'Sai is drawing a little energy from every person that walks in. Clever, but Lux isn't going to let her get away with this. Transform quickly and get there."
"Right." The two pulled their pendants. "Star Guardian Power Up!"
"Let's go." Janna said and with Poppy almost jump running behind her, they made for the festival.
Back at the festival, Lux was still looking for the heart and "making notes" on the clipboard that the bracelet had given her. Lux knew she couldn't keep it up for much longer, and just as she was about to admit defeat, she opened another door and in the middle of the room was the collector. Reaching for her locket, she knew what she had to do.
"So my suspicions were right." Lux turned and readied. "I thought I sensed a guardian. My mistress told me to be ready for you, but you are alone. And while your powers shield your identity. I can fix that."
"No you can't. Star Guardian Power Up!" Lux felt the power rush through her again as she transformed. The bracelet would allow her to transform without revealing her true identity, but it couldn't help her in a fight.
"Well then, let's battle." With that the seeker showed its true form. Erupting from its host its body was almost a jumbled mess as it looked like it was from a glitched computer game. "Well then. Let's go." And it charged.
Lux dodged the attack but was quickly hit from behind by its arm which extended. Lux hit the wall with some force and realized this would be a tough fight since its powers seemed to bend reality, like the funhouse and how it played with perception. "I hope you brought backup guardian because you will need it" and with that the seeker sprinted out of the room. Lux took a quick look but only seeing the collector, she knew the orbs were elsewhere but there was a bigger problem. She checked on the seeker's host, and after seeing he was still alive, but unconscious, dashed off after the seeker.
Lux immediately knew that trying to follow it was a mistake since it had clearly warped the funhouse to suit it. Constantly looking everywhere for the next attack, she was being kept on her toes. Especially after a quick series of blows tripped her, then hit her into a wall. Lux quickly regained her footing only to be hit again and knocked back down.
"Foolish girl. You come alone to face me."
"You underestimate me." Lux said and threw a binding and singularity which the seeker dodged by manipulating its body. Lux, undeterred, kept going after it with a few bolts from her baton, which did connect. "Eventually I will win."
"I doubt that young one. I have defeated countless before you. Now it is your turn." The seeker said, rearticulating its body to dodge more.
"So you say." Lux threw more bolts, which while missing, allowed her binding and more bolts to hit. "I'm not completely helpless as you presume."
"So it would seem. Then follow me." The binding wore off and the seeker darted out of the room. Lux followed quickly not thinking about getting backup from Janna or Poppy. The only thing going through her head was to win and show everyone she was just fine.
Entering yet another room, Lux was almost thrown dizzy by it. Clearly the seeker was warping reality and it used Lux's immediately uneasiness to get in another series of blows, once again knocking Lux down. Quickly regaining her footing, Lux threw her abilities again and she was still only connecting just barely for any damage. The seeker for its part, knew that it was just a little bit longer before she would make a mistake and then he would have her.
Outside, there was a little sense of panic as the police had surrounded the funhouse as soon as the seeker closed it and followed Lux inside. Janna, Poppy, and Debonair who had met up with them along the way sprinted into the festival grounds and were quickly let through the perimeter to deal with the monster. "Ok everyone, stick together and don't get separated. If we can guess anything it is probably using reality bending powers to fight." Janna said as they walked up the stairs.
"What makes you think that?" Poppy asked as Janna threw open the door. "Oh nevermind." Poppy added as she saw the initial hallway was clearly warped. "Great this will be fun. How we will find our companion?"
A loud crash from somewhere inside caught their attention. "I'd say, follow those sounds." Debonair said and they all quickly headed inside.
Lux meanwhile was making headway against the seeker, who was still holding back its full power. After landing a few abilities, Lux through she was ready. Focusing her powers, she readied for her Spark. Seeing its opportunity at last, the seeker reached out and bound Lux tightly.
"Finally. I thought you would never try. I hope you realized that I was holding back our whole fight. I have never attacked you with my full strength. Your last fight showed something. You were being reckless and she knew how to take advantage of that. Now against the rest of your team and that annoying other one, I wouldn't stand a chance, but against you alone. I knew I could survive and win. You see, you are so predictable and you never even called for help. How sad."
Lux tried to escape his grasp, but after just wiggling a bit, she knew it was hopeless. That feeling once again set it, and she knew that he was right. She was alone, and it was all her fault. He was also right that she wasn't in this fight alone, but instead of waiting for help, she just charged headlong into the fight. Lux just hung her head in defeat.
"There we go. That look of defeat is what I waited for."
"There will be another. There will always be another." Lux said picking her head back up. Still defiant, she wouldn't let her face betray her feelings again.
"I'm sure, but how long will it take for them to rise up? A day? A month? A year? Longer? Who knows. All I know is that with you out of the way, our job will be easier. Now I will end you, once and for all." A large spike emerged from end of one of the arms encircling her, and Lux just prepared herself for the end.
Suddenly an eruption of energy hit the seeker who, in shock, released Lux and stumbled back in pain. Lux didn't managed to catch herself before hitting the ground hard. Looking up, she saw Janna, Poppy, and Debonair standing in the room with her. Lux smiled and knew that the seeker was right about another thing, they were stronger together and that her friends knew exactly what she was going through. They all faced it, just in different ways.
"Well it seems that we have some uninvited guests. No matter, your leader is too weak to continue to fight. So how about the three of us dance?"
"You were right about a lot of things, but you are overlooking one thing about Star Guardians?" Lux said from the ground as she hadn't picked herself up just yet, but her hand closed tightly on her baton.
"Oh and what is that? That you were reckless?" The seeker laughed at its own joke.
"Yes I was reckless, but in your arrogance, you forgot something important as did I. Guardians only get stronger when they are all together. Now!" Lux threw a singularity while jumping up. Janna threw a twister, Poppy threw her buckler ahead of her, and Debonair charged up another shot. All four hit and Poppy then knocked the seeker back into the wall.
Clearly caught off guard, the seeker lashed out at Lux, but only connected with Lux's barrier, while Poppy brought her hammer down on the seeker's arm. Roaring in pain, the seeker turned to Poppy only to connect with Janna's barrier and then Poppy's and Debonair's hammers as they both knocked it back into yet another wall.
A loud crack was heard and suddenly the room almost returned to normal. "You destroyed my eye. Now I will destroy you." The seeker lashed out again, but found that its reality bending powers were gone. "No matter. I can still defeat you all the old fashioned way." The seeker transformed its arms into spikes and lashed out at Poppy and Debonair, who quickly dodged around them, while Zephyr clamped on slowing the seeker down, and Lux threw a binding.
"This ends now." Lux once again charged up her powers. "Final Spark!" She threw every last ounce of anger and frustration into the beam resulting in one more dusted seeker. "Now for the orbs."
"Oh you won't get them. I almost had you guardian, but you put up a good fight. Until next time." Rek'Sai's voice echoed through the house, and they all knew she got away with the energy.
"Come on. Let's go." Lux said as they exited the funhouse. Debonair separated and headed out a back exit while the three Guardians headed out the front. Still seeing the police out there, Lux for the first time noticed her injuries. While she wasn't bleeding, she was clearly bruised. They all looked up to see Vi was walking towards them.
"Well you three have managed to solve yet another problem. However, just a suggestion." Vi turned directly to Lux. "Don't go off on your own. You have a team, and you all work well together. You may be the leader, but you have to leave by example. I'm not a good example of that, but you seem to have a grasp on it. Don't lose it. Now go. I'll clean this up and get the guy to the hospital."
"Thanks. I'll remember that." Lux said and after nodding to Janna and Poppy, they all took off for a cliff overlooking the city. Once there, they all just sat on some rocks near the edge and overlooked the city. They all sat there for some time before Lux started talking.
"Well she was right." Janna and Poppy turned to Lux. "I was an idiot. I thought I could do it all myself, and that I had to do it all myself. That I needed to prove myself to you two and everyone else. How wrong I was. I almost got myself killed and for what? Because I was stupid. I know you two are going through the same things that I am and that each of you are dealing with the same things. I'm sorry." Lux hung her head and a few tears slipped out of her eyes.
Janna and Poppy moved to the same rock that Lux was sitting and put their arms around her. "Just don't forget, we are here for you. And we aren't going anywhere." Janna said.
"Yeah. You said it. We are stronger together. And together, we are unbeatable. Sure we may fall down a bit, get a few bruises, and the like, but we always come out on top. And once we get the full team together. We will be unstoppable." Poppy said. She held herself from giving Lux a punch in the side.
"Yeah. Let's just wait for that day. Until then. We will do our best. And we will get better and better." Lux finished and she lifted her head and looked at the sky. It was a beautiful sunny day and that also gave her hope.
Meanwhile on the moon Rek'Sai was before Malzahar. "While the scenario didn't work out the way we wanted it to, you did get a sizable amount of energy. And you almost truly eliminated a guardian. Only the timely arrival of her teammates prevented that from being carried out. You failed to plan for that."
"Understood prophet. Somehow she communicated or someone communicated. I will work to discover the source and eliminate it."
"Do not bother. That is irrelevant. Focus on collecting energy and getting rid of those Guardians. We keep expending a lot of energy trying to get more. And we have to stop doing that. Your haul today gives us a net positive, but we can't afford to keep up this pace."
"Understood. I will find something to draw in a large amount of energy with minimal output."
"Then go." Malzahar knew that Rek'Sai did well but she also missed a key area that would have stopped a problem from getting worse. Now everything they had done had to be accelerated. Malzahar turned to see the large world of Runeterra reflected in a pedestal. "Sooner or later, you will be mine."
On the hilltop, Lux, Janna, and Poppy finally powered down and headed home. Knowing there would be some explaining to their parents, but they were ready for that. That night, after the long discussions, they all enjoyed their best nights of sleep in a while. Even Lux who had her first night of real sleep in a week.