(Lux - PoV)
I can't help but squirm in my seat. I mean, they are nice. Stupid nice, actually. The League knows how to find some nice digs for their VIP boxes. I wonder how upset they would be if I borrowed one or three? I have a minion to carry them for me now. But I just can't sit still!
We had to split up once we got to the arena, Cithria and I going up to the fancy boxes while everyone else headed to the stage. Here they do all the ceremonial stuff and prepwork, like putting the spells on the Champions before teleporting them to the Rift and all that jazz, and all of us prime viewers get to watch everything. Again, the level of magic in the place is staggering but, that's not what matters right now!
No, what matters is that everyone important to me is down there on the stage! Along with most of the other Noxian Champions.
And the Demacian Champions are on the other side...
...
It is weird to be rooting for the other team, after so many years. To see the people I once cheered on as heroes as enemies. And the ones I once looked at as villains as heroes. Sort of.
I don't think anyone pretends Urgot is a hero. Man is he ugly. I hope the necromancers do as bad a job with Gerald. Then again, maybe Urgot was just ugly to begin with? I should ask Brother.
Still, I look over the sides.
Brother, Anniekins, Sivir, Big Sis, and Kat are our chosen lineup for the match. Swain wants to show off for this match, shove Demacia's nose in the dirt. Also, I didn't know we had gotten Sivir again, I really should keep up with the news better. I don't like how she is looking at Big Sis though. Those are mine! I called dibs!
The rest of the registered Noxian Champions are behind them.
Swain, Darius, Draven, Talon, Urgot, Leblanc, Vladimir, Elise.
Everybody looks pretty formal or bored for the most part. Darius looks kind of annoyed. I guess I understand, he got kind of cockblocked didn't he? Spent years waiting for the war and then Demacia pusses out. Did he even get to kill anyone? And Draven won't stop playing with his stupid mustache. I am going to dye it fuchsia.
Demacia, on the other hand...Well, their roster appears rather lackluster, in comparison.
Their chosen five stand at the front. Fiora, Jarvan, Shyvana, Xin, and Quinn.
Not bad, but their only backup is Poppy. She is pretty cute, if not as much as Tristana. Perfect height to just, you know. Lift my skirt right over her head.
Fiora looks bitchy and stuck up as usual. Quinn and the Popster look determined and doesn't Poppy just look all adorable like that? I wonder if you can adopt a Yordle? The trio just look depressed. Shouldn't they be happier after getting to fight a giant monster? That fight sounded pretty badass. They should make a comic of it, giant gargoyle vs dragon sounds cool.
Anyhow, the teams used to be at least fairly close in number. Now? Well, it is obvious why Demacia wanted this resolved in the League. Just imagine how quickly things would be over if Noxus sent all of these Champions to Demacia...
(Outside Observer, League Master Summoner - PoV)
"Greetings, viewers. I am Outside Observer and I will be your host and referee for tonight's match. I won't bore everyone with the details, you all know the participants. It's the biggest grudge in Valoran, Demacia versus Noxus, come to a head at last. Tonight? Tonight Noxus gets their chance to end it, once and for all."
"Noxus will be fighting in red, so, let's get the formalities out of the way, and get everyone signed in."
"Garen, you have been called to fight for Noxus in the Summoner's Rift. Do you accept?"
I try to ignore the flash in the stands. There is a great deal of magic in place to prevent mages from interfering with the ceremonies. I do hope his sister doesn't try again, she must be stupidly strong to have caused such an effect in the first place.
The big armored man steps forward, placing his hand on his stone. "I do."
He looks good in Noxian colors though. I was surprised to hear about his defection, but it seems to be working out for him, good to hear, good to hear.
"Annie, you have been called to fight for Noxus in the Summoner's Rift. Do you accept?"
The girl steps forward, attempting solemnity and failing horribly. She is too cute. "I do," she says, placing her hand on the stone.
"Sivir, you have been called to fight for Noxus in the Summoner's Rift. Do you accept?"
The merc swaggers up to her stone, slamming her palm on it like she is making a bet. "I do."
Swain seemed to be going for overkill when he bought out her contract. I don't think he expected Demacia to just kind of crumple in on itself like that.
None of us did.
"Morgana, you have been called to fight for Noxus in the Summoner's Rift. Do you accept?"
She approaches her stone gracefully, wings on full display. She agreed to allow a new angelic variant in her copies as well, I certainly want to give it a try once it is ready for testing. "I do."
"Katarina, you have been called to fight for Noxus in the Summoner's Rift. Do you accept?"
Finally, the assassin sways seductively to her stone, the last on this side of the arena, gently placing her hand on the stone. "I do," she whispers.
"Excellent, the Noxian team is prepared, all five members have agreed. The stones will have placed the basic enchantments, more Summoners will prepare the advanced ones after the Demacian team is sworn in. Speaking of, let us get to it. Demacia, you will be blue team, and You. Are. Up!"
"Fiora, you have been called to fight for Demacia in the Summoner's Rift. Do you accept?"
"Of course," she utters, sashaying to the stone and proudly placing her hand on it.
"Jarvan, you have been called to fight for Demacia in the Summoner's Rift. Do you accept?"
"No."
Wait, what?
"The Demacia I fought for died long ago. What is left...what is left will be better under Noxian rule than the insanity of the Council."
He steps back.
Fiora is gaping at him, along with...well, everyone.
Ohhhh shit. It seems the Demacian Council has done fucked up. Someone reaaaallly should have consulted their Prince before making decisions without him. Oh, this is going to be such a clusterfuck. I can't wait.
"I...I see. Shyvana, you have been called to fight for Demacia in the Summoner's Rift. Do you accept?"
"No." She steps back as well.
...This is actually happening.
"Xin Zhao, you have been called to fight for Demacia in the Summoner's Rift. Do you accept?"
"No." The third member steps away, leaving Demacia down at least half of their potentials.
...Yes, this is a complete trainwreck. I, I am so proud to be a part of this wonderful mess. And none of it can be blamed on me! See All Fall Down? This is how it's done! Just be patient and the disasters will come to you. I know you are watching.
Oh the Fiora girl looks pissed. She was banking on this being her big introduction as Champion, wasn't she? Tough break girl, tough break.
"Quinn, you have been called to fight for Demacia in the Summoner's Rift. Do you accept?"
"..." she is silent.
"Quinn, you have been called to fight for Demacia in the Summoner's Rift. Do you accept?" I repeat. I guess she didn't get the memo?
"Damnit, give me a minute, ok?" she demands.
Not normally how things are done but I guess we can do that, sure! Not like this is being watched by the entire world or anything.
"Damnit Jarvan, way to spring this shit on the rest of us. Could have used a little warning here, ya know?" she berates him.
He looks away.
"Sorry Quinn, I...was uncertain myself, what my choice was to be, until the last moment. It was not a decision to make lightly."
"No shit." she admonishes, before sighing.
Are...are they just going to have a conversation in the middle of the ceremony? While this is airing across Valoran? They do remember that right?
"I...I've fought Noxus...for so long. To just roll over for them now...
She glares across the arena at the Noxian team.
Draven cheerfully waves back from his spot in the reserve.
"You...really think they are the way to go? That Noxus is the way to go?"
"As much as it pains me..." He really does look pained. Or constipated. It can be hard to tell the difference. "Yes, it seems that way. I trust Garen's integrity and Swain's talent at the bare minimum. While Demacia...something has gone wrong with the Kingdom. So very, very wrong. And can you tell me, in all honesty, that you trust anything about the Council? Or the Mageseekers, whatever is left of them?"
Apparently so. They are going to just discuss this right here. In the middle of a formal ceremony. On a live stream. I don't even know what is happening right now but I love it.
She looks back at me. "No. I will not fight," she answers before backing away to join the others.
Dun dun dun, another one bites the dust...
"Very well. With less than five Champions we go to the reserve list for Demacia, which is looking rather...short, at the moment."
"Are you making fun of me?" Poppy asks, glaring at me cutely.
"I...apologies, that was unintentional." I assure her.
Really, discrimination is absolutely unacceptable. We treat everyone equally badly.
I clear my throat.
"Poppy, you have been called to fight for Demacia in the Summoner's Rift. Do you accept?"
...
She hesitates, before looking towards the...possibly former, prince?
"Jarvan...how am I supposed to find a worthy wielder for the hammer if Demacia doesn't exist anymore?"
Oh this is great, she is getting in on it too!
"Poppy, you were always worthy of the hammer. You have been a worthy hero for centuries. You can still keep fighting as a hero, it doesn't have to be for Demacia."
"But...but he said..." She pauses, considering Jarvan's words. "I failed if I was...And what would I even fight for then?"
Oh and this time it is all about personal matters, not even national interests. This was billed as the big League match of the decade, instead it is quickly becoming a daytime talk show. I've never been a talk show host...
Jarvan shakes his head. "We all failed Poppy. My family's job was to guide Demacia, and look at what became of it. We failed utterly. What should you fight for now? Whatever you think is right. Perhaps you could even visit the other Yordles for a time? I believe Tristana is attempting to protect the various bandlewoods. Someone with your experience could prove useful for her cause."
Even more militarized Yordles, that does sound like a fun time. I wonder if I can convince Noxus or Zaun to start shipping them more weapons?
"I...ok."
"Umm, is that for...?" I ask her. I don't think she is agreeing to fight but...
"Oh, uh, no. No, I won't fight," she confirms.
Ok, had to make sure.
Poppy steps back.
...
"Well then, this is uh, quite the situation. For lesser matches, team filling is no issue, but for a big show like this? We can certainly fill a slot when necessary, but Demacia only has ONE Champion to represent it! I don't think anyone saw that coming, certainly not me! Excuse me folks, I think we need to have a bit of a discussion as to whether or not we can even continue this particular match. The League agreed to let Demacia fight in our arena, not to fight for them."
Fiora marches off the stage, shaking in rage. What a drama queen.
Stepping off my podium, I head towards the back room, several Champions following me. Swain is calm and composed, as if this shit happens every day, but I imagine he is cackling inside. Several of the others are more befuddled. I suspect Leblanc is just enjoying the show as much as myself.
"Anyone who doesn't want to deal with political stuff can go get refreshments or whatever," I tell them, pointing to a side door.
No sense in crowding the place with bored Champions. I would also really rather not have Urgot or Draven in there.