Author's Note: Sorry in advanced for the shortish chapter. It was either a slightly shorter chapter, a monstrously long one or cut it in a really awkward spot. Hope you all enjoy it anyway :).

Ziggs gratefully took the proffered towel, relieved to rid himself of the tense silence as much as the pudding. Tristana soon fell from his view as he swiped the towel over his head in a well-practised motion. The blue yordle had long ago stashed a towel in her locker after one too many messy mishaps. Rumble had a spare one in his locker as well, though unsurprisingly, Ziggs had yet to take the initiative.

The familiar situation tugged a small smile (and an eyeroll) from the girl before her frown resettled. "I take it it didn't go well," she asked softly.

Ziggs paused, bright green eyes meeting hers from under the fabric before he shrugged. "Nothing ventured, nothing gained."

Tristana's mouth thinned at his logic. While true, it had been unlikely from the start. "Rumble doesn't like her," she addressed the flaw both were aware of without openly saying it.

However Ziggs sidestepped the obvious, "Rumble doesn't like anyone."

True, she admitted to herself before pressing on more directly. "I don't like her either."

The boy sighed, "Yeah, I know. She's pretty though."

Tristana snorted in derision, "So am I, but you don't see me treating our classmates like they're garbage. Seriously, a few boys get interested in her and suddenly she thinks she's better than everyone."

"Says the girl who could have any boy in the school if she wanted to but isn't interested in a relationship."

Tristana bristled at the comment. "I am interested in a relationship! I am! I don't know why yordles say I'm not."

Humoured by her reaction but not meaning to upset the girl, Ziggs tried to explain, "Trist-"

"Sure, I'm not really interested right now, but that doesn't mean I'll never want a boyfriend or a family in the future."

Unfortunately for him, Tristana's rant was in full swing. He was well aware that when she got like this almost nothing could stop her, but when had something like that ever stopped him from trying before. "Trist."

"But everyone acts like the world will end if I don't get one in high school. For crying out loud, I'm sixteen, not sixty!"

"Trist."

"I have enough to worry about between keeping the two of you out of trouble and trying to get into the Meglings." Her rant had now escalated into pacing. If he didn't stop her soon he'd have to use drastic measures.

"Tristana."

"So what if I want my career to come first and a relationship second? There's nothing wrong with being driven."

"Tristana."

"Plus all the good looking guys at our school are major jerks anyway. Where's the appeal in that? Unless you're Victoria."

"TRISTANA!"

The blue girl paused mid-step, blinking at him in shock.

"Look I know," Ziggs said, handing her towel back as he spoke, "and I have no problem with that. If you don't want to go out with anyone yet that's fine. I was just trying to make a joke about the irony of the situation. You know, how you could have any guy here but don't care while I can't get a date even when I try."

She deflated sheepishly at his words, "Right sorry. It's just between my mother and Connor – argh! I'm tired of always having to explain myself."

He patted her back, "I know."

Sending him a grateful glance she continued, "I still think you could do better."

His smile slipped and he didn't respond.

"Hey," Turning to face him directly she asked gently, "are you alright?"

And for once, Ziggs answered honestly, "No." Then he sent her a small smile. "But I will be."

Tristana felt her muscles relax at the smile – his first real one all afternoon. Chucking the towel back into her locker she pulled him along. "Good. Cause we're going to be late to Phys-Ed if we don't leave now. And here I was hoping for an uneventful lunch for once. Guess I should have known that was too much to ask between the two of you."

"Oh? Two?" Ziggs' grin grew wider. "This wouldn't happen to have anything to do with those 'cute assholes' you were talking about before?" He batted his eyelashes at her only to get a hand shoving his face backwards.

"It would happen to be me pulling Rumble off of Connor for inviting me to a party. Honestly, I feel like a parent around you two sometimes. Constantly vigilent for the next mess I'm going to have to pull you out of. At least with Teemo…" she trailed off as her expression fell before slowly coming to a stop.

Ziggs felt his own smile fade as fear and sadness clawed its own way up his lungs. He quickly shoved it aside. "I'm sure he's fine." Forcing a smile, he continued, "You should be more worried about me. Have I told you about my latest scheme yet? You're gonna love it. Probably kill me too, but that's a given so it's beside the point."

Tristana's laughter rang out as he exuberantly pitched his elaborate plans to her, lifting some of the oppressive weight he refused to acknowledge. Trist was nervous enough about this afternoon as it was. She didn't need to also be worrying about their missing friend.

Tristana fiddled with the bottom of her shirt as she waited nervously for the results. This had been the final hurdle to get her on track to becoming a fully fledged Megling. After all those months of interviews, tests and call-backs. After all the exhaustive nerves, intensive training and hopeful determination driving her beyond her limits. It had all been leading up to this. This final fitness test would be the make or break point. Once the judges came back she would know if she'd made it into the Commando course or not.

Around her other hopefuls milled about. Some pacing with anticipation, while others recovered from the gruelling workout. Most she didn't recognise (either older than her or from a different school), though she could see a couple of familiar faces. These few would send her fortuitous smiles upon eye contact but little else, everyone too tired and too nervous for small talk.

Trying to overcome the oppressive feeling squeezing her insides, the blue girl let go of her shirt hem, only to run her hands through her short hair. A small smile forced its way past her nervous grimace. The recent shoulder-length had proven quite useful in these tests, making her doubly glad she'd gotten it cut (the first being her mother's reaction). Not having to worry about her hair getting caught in anything had really allowed her to focus fully on the task at hand and (in her own opinion) excel at the physical tests.

"Hey kiddo!" A bright voice brought Tristana's head up, a grin splitting her face at the sight of the fiery yordle heading her way.

"Artemis!" she greeted the commando enthusiastically.

"Fancy seeing you here," the big-haired yordle winked.

"You know I wouldn't have missed this," she quipped back as the commando slumped into the seat next to her.

Ever since their first interaction at the international ball several years ago, the two had steadily grown close friends. Each event Tristana had been forced to go to becoming less of a chore and more of a chance to get to know her hero better.

Artemis, for her part, had also become quite fond of the spunky and kind-hearted yordling's companionship. Enjoying her lively enthusiasm and honoured to be such a core part of her early life. She had never expected the chance to pass on her knowledge and guide another towards her dreams the way she'd been able to with Tristana. It was an opportunity she was glad to have had.

Her smile turned soft. "Yeah, I know,"

The teen turned to her in curiousity, "So what are you doing here?"

Throwing her long, curly hair over her shoulder, Artemis answered honestly, "Checking out the new candidates. Judges wanted my input."

That caused Tristana to shift uncomfortably. "Artemis," she began, but the older yordle cut her off, already guessing the question based on the hesitant, accusing tone.

"Don't worry about it. I was brought in to give an experienced opinion but I have no say in who actually gets in. Besides, they already knew about my connection to you. My input won't have anything to do with whether you get in or not."

"Good," Tristana nodded resolutely. "If I get in, I want to do it by my own merits, not my connections."

Artemis gave a satisfied smile, "I wouldn't want it any other way. This job is important and dangerous. I refuse to put people in danger because of a personal relationship."

They lapsed into a comfortable silence and Tristana soon found herself playing with the hem of her shirt again.

"So, I know you don't know who's going to get through," she started nervously, "but how do you think I did?"

Artemis sent her a knowing look. "Nervous?"

"You have no idea," Tristana's grin was lopsided.

"Don't be," the orange yordle told her. "You did spectacular. I have no doubt you'll get in."

"You think so?" the blue teen's question was unusually timid.

"Kid, I've been in this business for years. I know talent when I see it."

She was startled when the younger yordle gave her a fierce hug. "Thanks Artemis."

"No problem kiddo. You know if you ever need anything, you can always ask me," she returned the gesture with just as much warmth.

Tristana's smile faded as her conversation with Ziggs came to mind.

"Hey Artemis?" The redhead hummed a positive. "Have you heard anything about the missing Scout group?"

Artemis' face turned sombre. "Your friend was in that group, wasn't he?"

Tristana couldn't find it in her to answer verbally; instead she settled for a small nod.

The Mothership Scouts were an elite unit of the Bandle City military, just like the Megling Commandos. But whereas the Commandos (as Artemis so fondly put it) were the big guns – the ones you sent in to unwinnable situations and won – the Scouts were usually involved in covert operations and reconnaissance.

The method of entry was different too. If you wanted to be a Megling you had to climb through the ranks to get there. Sure, if you showed enough potential right out of school, you could be put on a fast track to become one (just like Tristana was aiming to do). But that was simply extra training on top of being a regular soldier first. The Megling Commandos were, at their core, still soldiers and normal battle training was required to build the fundamental skills and knowledge needed. In the end, what set the Commandos apart from the regular infantry was the unrivalled skill they could reach.

Scout's, on the other hand, required a lot more specialised training. As a result, their training and schooling were handled at a much younger age. And those that got in, only did so through recommendation.

At the end of their ninth year (due to his dad being a high-ranking Scout) Teemo had gotten an interview, and since he had shown enough potential and interest, he had been transferred into the training program. It had made it harder for the four friends to keep in contact but they had managed. Right up until he and the other recruits had gone on survival training in the Kumungu. It had only been meant to last a month. That was three months ago.

"No, I haven't," Artemis' answer was grim. "No one's heard anything from them. Nor has anything been found."

Tristana sighed as the heavy feeling returned. "You'll let me know if you do though. Right?"

"You have my word."

The blue girl managed a small smile, "Thanks Artemis."