Aaaand I wasn't even able to wait a week. I feel like I should be spacing these chapters out a bit more, but I just can't help it! Writing this fic has brought me immeasurable joy, and I hope to continue for a long long time! To give you a vague idea for what I have planned, I've tentatively divided the story into 5 Acts. Each will probably get longer the more I write and the better I become AT writing. The first Act, the one we're in now, will probably come out to AT LEAST 12 chapters. As I get towards the finale of the first Act, I'll probably slow my upload speed, just so I can take the extra time to go over each chapter meticulously. So yea, of we average it out, we're looking at about 60 chapters, each clocking in at about 6,500 (on average) words per chapter. Strap in, y'all. We're going on an ADVENTURE.
Anyways, I'm taking a page out of Vitalus' book (potentially due to the fact that they didn't have any option BUT to include reader responses at the end of the fic) and responding to reader feedback! Since I've been an impatient little brat, I don't really have a lot of reviews to respond to, but whatever! You're not the boss of me!
I'll let you get to the dang fic now. The reviews will be at the end from now on! Love you all, and I hope you enjoy. ~Aurora
Sure, the League weakens MY powers substantially, but Teemo's allowed to place a dozen mushrooms in a tight corner and that's just dandy! Veigar thought angrily, stalking out of a rather tedious match. Everything had been going fine until that pathetic hammer-wielding yordle decided to strut down the river, caution to the wind.
He grimaced, recalling the screams of pain and enormous explosions of green as Teemo's mushroom traps were triggered by Poppy. And they say I'M the only evil yordle that exists.
As he strode through the open courtyard of the Institute of the League, he passed the Spectators Hall. What the League had failed to inform the champions when they had been initiated was that this "peace strategy" of theirs was also intended to be a spectator sport. Even now, thousands of citizens all across the realm of Runeterra waited with baited breath in front of their scrolls as the League prepared for the next match.
Some of the champions relished in this newfound fame and glory. The Noxian Executioner Craven, famed brother of Darius and resident narcissist, particularly reveled in the excitement he brought the crowds with his special brand of savagery.
Others, like Veigar, found it immensely annoying. It felt like his lifelong goal, to bring peace to Runeterra by subjugating all the nations, was being treated as a game for others entertainment.
The Spectator Hall existed so other champions could watch in on current matches. Veigar had never been in there himself. He had nothing to fear from any of his opponents, so why bother?
However, something caught his eye on the massive display hanging in the room as he passed the door. Was that... Lulu in mid lane? He frowned. From what she had told him, her abilities purely revolved around assisting others, with only a few minor spells to deal damage and protect herself.
His brow furrowed deeper when he saw her opponent: Tahm Kench. They already had a rather poor relationship, and Veigar knew that the River King would surely abuse any chance he could to harm Lulu in "legitimate" circumstances. Sometimes it felt like the Grand Tribunal was always watching their actions, trying to discern what matchups would be the most entertaining.
Surprising himself, he pushed through the hanging curtains of the hall and stepped inside. The interior was nothing to scoff at. An illuminated trim of enchanted gold ran along the edges of the room, giving it an eerie yellow glow. Cushions meticulously handwoven from runecloth adorned comfortable couches made of a violet fabric Veigar didn't recognize. Banners enchanted with scrying spells hung from the ceiling, allowing the residents of the Hall watch the match from a plethora of angles.
A few champions were lingering, watching the beginnings of the game with only mild interest. It'd been about five months since the League had formed, and many of them were no longer impressed by the otherwise spectacular shows put on by the current combatants. The Hall was simply a nice place to wait in anticipation for a champion's own match. Several of the attendees murmured with interest as they noticed Veigar's arrival, but none made a move to greet him. Expected, he thought, but I'm disappointed nonetheless. I was hoping for a distraction to take this damn edge off.
Veigar winced, touching his temple with his gauntlet. His headaches had been getting severe lately, a constant reminder of his past tortures. Sitting down next to a scroll focused on his friend, he feigned disinterest, pulling out a rag soaked in mineral oil and wiping his staff.
Lulu skipped forward down the lane, trying her best to hide the nervousness swirling in her head like an angry swarm of butterflies. She'd been lucky to avoid Tahm Kench since their last encounter, secretly praying that the day would never come. Alas, fortune seemed disinterested in her plight today as she eyed the large catfish creature from across the lane. She was particularly anxious because the Summoner she was working with today had a very... strange plan.
Are you certain this is a good idea, Summoner? I'm not exactly the most combative person. She heard laughter in her head, indicative that her summoner was at the very least willing to listen.
Never fear, Lulu! This is my master strategy, months in the making. You've nothing to fear from that grey menace. Lulu sighed, trying and failing to take comfort from her Summoner's bold claims. She glanced at Pix, who floated in a lazy orbit around her head.
At least someone is relaxed, she thought grumpily, gripping her staff tight with both hands. A feminine voice, belonging to the League's ever popular announcer, signaled the beginning of the match. Suppressing a grimace, Lulu trotted into lane and stared down her opponent, waiting for his first move. Quick to oblige, Tahm whipped his tongue forwards in a long line, attempting to strike her.
With agility she didn't even know she possessed, Lulu danced out of the way, throwing out a Glitterlance to counterattack. It glanced off his thick hide, dealing miniscule damage to his already enormous contenance. Lulu's heart dropped as the rotund monster laughed.
"I guess you really are for show after all, darling. Is that how you got into the League? By being Veigar's favorite pet?" Lulu blushed furiously, upset with Tahm Kench but too embarrassed to retort. *All part of the plan, Lulu!* her summoner thought to her.
"How is this part of the plan!?" She shouted aloud. Veigar clenched his fists with rage, glowering at the screen intensely. "Come on, Lulu. Show the idiot that he got more than he bargained for," Veigar muttered. He'd seen Lulu's Glitterlance before. A long, glowing beam of concentrated fairy magic. Not a bad offense spell normally, but for some reason it seemed weaker to Veigar. Almost as if her magical prowess was... missing. He furrowed his brow with confusion.
Lulu gasped for air, panting with exhaustion. So far her spells had done very little to Tahm Kench, and it was taking all her energy just to survive. I could kill for some water right about now. What sort of sadist designed this game and didn't take the needs of us into account? Cracking his knuckles, Tahm Kench bore down on her, intentending on finishing her off and destroying her protective tower. If that happened, they'd almost surely lose the game!
A blaze of fire erupted from the bushes to Lulu's right, smashing right into the River King and knocking him flat on his back. He roared with pain, clawing at his own face as he desperately tried to put out the flames hungrily devouring his flesh. Stepping out of the brush, Lulu was surprised to see a young girl approaching her.
She'd heard of Annie, of course. A powerful child with magic so strong she could tame a Fel Bear, and a lineage wrapped in mystery like a blanket. Her fiery red hair struck a startling contrast with her emerald eyes. Annie giggled at the burning fish man and skipped over to him. She leaned down so she was face to face with him and loudly proclaimed, "Have you seen my bear Tibbers?"
Tahm Kench's eyes widened, darting to the stuffed bear Annie held in her left hand. Lulu took a step backwards. Even she knew what came next. Annie let out a shrill laugh and threw her doll in the air. The toy was consumed in a gout of flame, and from it emerged an enormous, flaming bear. It's visage was terrifying, as all fel bears were, but it was unique in that it featured a cross stitch across its stomach, indicating Annie's ownership. Annie giggled and clapped her hands together, exclaiming, "Tibbers!"
The bear let out a bloodcurdling roar, slashing it's blazing claws across Tahm's face. He howled in agony and slumped to the ground, his large body going still as his tongue rolled limply out of his gaping maw. Annie smiled and turned to Lulu. "Hi!"
Lulu swallowed nervously and stuck out her hand. "Hello, I'm Lulu! You're Annie right?" The little girl nodded and took her hand, shaking it excitedly. "Did you see me burn that big toad man? He toasted really good!" Lulu chuckled, giving Annie a soft smile. She suppressed a sigh of relief. Annie was a nice girl, despite what everyone had said.
"Yup! Thanks so much for the help. I'm really not suited for this kind of combat all by myself. My summoner keeps telling me not to worry, but I have my suspicions he doesn't know what he's doing." Annie laughed and nodded, swaying her skirt side to side.
"Well I'm really enjoying myself down in bottom lane. None of those guys put up a fight! Easy pickings for Tibbers. Isn't that right, Tibbers?" The enormous bear nuzzled against Annie, who returned his affections with a fierce hug, clearly unperturbed by the fact he was on fire.
Veigar watched as the two girls chatted amicably. He saw Lulu laugh and wave as the young fire witch skipped away back to her own lane. The danger had passed, but Veigar still felt angry. Why? Lulu's safe, and Tahm Kench is a literal kabob. Why do I still feel upset?
"It's called jealousy, little yordle." Veigar spun, only to feel his heart stop as he laid eyes on someone he hadn't seen for over a century. The woman smiled, pulling a strap tight on her provocative outfit. Seeing LeBlanc smile for any reason other than a sadistic one made Veigar extremely uncomfortable. It made the magic marks on her cheeks dance, and the smile never reached her eyes. LeBlanc had terrified Veigar a long time ago. Now, her presence just unnerved him.
"What do you want?" LeBlanc smiled at him with amusement, holding up her hands reassuringly.
"Nothing, little one. I'm here for the same reason as you." Veigar frowned. "What do you want with her?" LeBlanc stared at him in confusion, then laughed. Veigar's eyes grew wide as he realized what he'd just insinuated. "I'm here for my next match, of course. I had assumed that was your reason for being here as well. Clearly I was mistaken." She flashed a knowing look at Veigar, who glared back in response.
The rest of Lulu's match went surprisingly well in her favor. Annie was having an easy time down in bottom lane, blasting them apart with her fireballs. Lulu's summoner had purchased her a Nashor's Tooth, which turned out to be frighteningly effective for her. Veigar watched, feigned interest be damned, as Lulu and her team pushed forward into the enemy base, securing a victory.
LeBlanc eyed the small warlock, concerned. "Veigar." She said cautiously. "I know," he hissed back, turning to face her and narrowing his eyes. "This isn't what you think. I know better than to let myself be so easily swayed. She's nothing more than an amusement." It felt unpleasant to lie about Lulu like that, but he wouldn't allow himself to be seen as vulnerable by the other champions. Besides, it was partially true. Lulu was just a friend, and LeBlanc's worries were over nothing.
He heard applause from outside. It sounded like Lulu and her team had just exited the Rift. Veigar nodded curtly to LeBlanc, who smiled knowingly and walked over to a few other Noxian champions gathered at the opposite end of the room. Sparing one last glance towards the woman known as The Deceiver, he snatched a spare summoner's cloak from a rack by the door and strode outside.
Lulu laughed loudly as she strode off the Fields with her new friend. "So you're telling me that when Tibbers gets cold, instead of shivering he roars at nothing?" Annie smiled, holding her stuffed teddy bear tight against her chest. "More specifically, I think he's trying to make the cold so scared that it will stop bothering him!"
Snickering, Lulu reflected on her good fortune. Since Veigar had invited her to join him in the League (she chose to imagine it that way), she'd made TWO friends. Not to mention one of those friends was deceptively handsome. She sighed, mourning Veigar's insistence on wearing his concealing cloak and overly sized cap. Reaching up to touch her own large hat, she supposed she couldn't fault Veigar too much. At least she let people see her face, though!
"Have I ever mentioned how much that hat suits you?" Lulu spun, surprised by the sudden intrusion on her thoughts. A short figure guised in a summoner's robe stood next to her, waiting expectantly.
"Erm.. hi?" Lulu stared in confusion at the unfamiliar summoner. The figure leaned in and pulled the hood back slightly, barely enough to reveal his glowing yellow eyes to Lulu. She gasped, quickly covering her mouth as her eyes darted to Annie, completely oblivious to her new friend's sidebar.
"Once again you impress me. You really are one of a kind, my sorceress. I'm amazed it took this long for someone besides myself to notice your worth." Veigar nodded towards Annie, who had started talking to her bear.
"You sure know how to pick em, Lu." Glancing at the girl, Lulu flashed a gentle smile. "She's sweet, and just like us. Abandoned at a really young age and left to fend for herself, it's amazing she turned out so well. If you want to praise anyone, she definitely deserves it more than I do. I had Pix to look out for me."
"Which would I want to protect me; a dinky little fairy, or an enormous fel bear?" Veigar asked mockingly, eyeing the lazy fairy as it glowered back at him. Lulu punched him lightly in the shoulder.
"I'd take Pix over Tibbers any day! At least Pix can talk."
Veigar smirked. "Tell that to the girl currently having a full fledged conversation with her stuffed animal."
Lulu gasped and shoved him slightly with playful indignation. "VEIGAR!"
Eyes widening, Veigar held a mouth to her lips. "Are you TRYING to get us caught?" Right on cue, Annie walked over, eyes glistening with concern.
"Are you okay, Lu?" Annie asked, glancing at the figure standing next to her. Veigar tightened his hand into a fist. Noticing, Lulu subtly grabbed Veigar's free hand to steady his anger.
"Yea I'm fine Annie! This is the summoner I was working with during the match. It's his unconventional build you have to thank for us winning. That and your stellar performance, of course." Lulu flashed a weak smile, clearly unaccustomed to lying. Veigar thanked whatever god was listening that he'd decided to watch the whole match, otherwise he'd have no idea what to say next.
"Mmmm, yes, I am quite the clever summoner, after all. My brilliance knows no bounds." he said in an overly prudish voice. Annie stared at him for a moment, then shrugged and turned back to Lulu.
"I have to go now! Tibbers gets really hungry if I don't feed him after a match. Seeya later!" Lulu waved goodbye as the girl skipped off, humming to herself happily.
"You can stop crushing my hand now." Lulu whispered. Startled, Veigar released the death grip he had on her, smiling apologetically.
"Sorry, I just… didn't like someone else calling you Lu." he muttered, looking a little embarrassed.
Lulu felt her cheeks warm as her eyes took on a shade of pink. She gave Veigar a squeeze to comfort him. "How was your match?" He grimaced, reflecting on Teemo's abnormally stellar performance.
"I'd rather not talk about it. Lets just say Teemo is the worst."
"You should try being nicer to him!"
Veigar stared at her, aghast.
"Kidding, kidding! I'm not Teemo's biggest fan either."
Veigar breathed a sigh of relief. "For a second I was worried you'd gone crazy on me." Lulu smiled, then leaned in and kissed his cheek.
"I already am." Veigar groaned at his inability to stop the rush of blood to his cheeks. The things this girl did to him!
"Veigar, you look like you spilled a health potion on your face!" She teased, grinning from ear to ear. Oh, so she was mocking him, now? Well two can play at that game! Veigar thought, a devilish idea popping into his head.
Veigar grabbed Lulu and pulled her close, pressing their bodies together. She was comfortingly warm in the otherwise brisk weather, tempting him to just hold her against him and never let go. Lulu's face went beet red, her eyes glowing pink to match her cheeks. "Veigar! What are you doing?" she whispered forcefully.
"Making you feel the same way I do." Closing his eyes, he leaned forward and took her lips in his, pressing them together. Despite this being his first kiss, Veigar could tell he was doing it right. Lulu absolutely melted in his arms, moaning as he locked them together in an embrace. Veigar let slip a moan himself, enjoying it a lot more than he'd expected. How was she so good at this, after telling him she'd never so much as kissed her parents? Wrapping his arm around her, he pulled her even closer, feeling her lithe frame press against his chest.
The two held each other for what seemed like hours. Breaking the kiss, he took a few steps back, gasping for air. Veigar had lost track of time while staring into her captivating pink eyes, so much so that he'd nearly forgotten to breath. Eyeing her over, he burst into laughter when he realized she was even pinker than before.
Lulu stared at Veigar in a daze, too distracted by the butterflies in her stomach to object to his laughter. Veigar leaned in and whispered "Now you know how I felt."
"Lulu, are you okay?" The two quickly broke apart, putting space between each other. Ziggs stared at them, eyeing both of them suspiciously. Lulu dusted off her dress and Veigar coughed, turning his head to hide the blush under his cloak.
"Is this guy bothering you, Lulu? I can get rid of him for you." Ziggs placed his hand on a pouch at his side threateningly, glaring openly at Veigar. I am still disguised, right? Veigar looked himself over and sighed with relief. Now all he had to do was avoid getting blasted to pieces.
"I'm fine, Ziggs. This summoner here was just thanking me for my cooperation with his strategy in the last match." Ziggs frowned, keeping his hand on his bomb pouch.
"Do summoners normally congratulate their champions with passionate kisses following a match? Because if so, I think I'm owed a few myself." Lulu went white as a sheet, her staff clattering to the ground as her grip went lax. Veigar coughed and stepped forward, trying to appear dignified.
"What's it to a little guy like you? Last I checked she wasn't YOUR girlfriend. I'm just a big bad summoner taking what I want." Ziggs stared at him, aghast.
"I can't believe what I'm hearing! Lulu, step back. I'll take care of this freak." Ziggs ignited a bomb with the flick of his wrist, tossing it in the air menacingly. Lulu snapped out of her stupor and ran between them, holding her hands out to seperate them.
"Woah hold up Ziggs! I promise you he wasn't kissing me. You just… caught me off guard was all. He was just telling me a secret tip for my next match." Narrowing his eyes, Ziggs snorted with disbelief. "You're a terrible liar, Lulu. Fine." He snuffed the fuse on his hexplosive, stowing it back in the pouch.
"Don't tell me. It's not like I'd care either way." He turned to stare down Veigar. "What's your name? I'm reporting you to the Tribunal for this." Veigar paused.
"Tee-tra Pop…lar. Yea, Teetra Poplar." Probably one of his worst lies, but he was still swimming a bit after the kiss. Ziggs was clearly unamused, glowering at him as he stalked away.
"I'll see you around, Teetra." Lulu watched him go before letting out a gasp. She looked at Veigar weakly.
"What is it with hanging out with you that makes me hold my breath so often?" Veigar blushed furiously, both at the accidental innuendo and the accusation. Deciding he was done being speechless, he took it in stride.
"What can I say, I'm positively soul-stealing." Lulu laughed, quickly covering her mouth to avoid attracting any more attention. "I'm sorry for blowing our cover like that. Now people will suspect we're friends." Veigar waved his hand nonchalantly, grinning slightly under his guise and signaling for her to follow as he moved through the front gate of the Institute into the surrounding forest. He was sick of being interrupted, and he really needed to get moving before night fell.
Shedding his stolen cloak, he pulled his regular garb from the aether, adoring himself with his comfortable regalia and wide-brimmed hat. Lulu tried to catch another peek at his face, but was disappointed to see that he'd cast an illusion spell to shadow all but his mouth and eyes from view.
"If I'm lucky, I can string Ziggs along on this Teetra Poplar character for awhile. That should give us both ample opportunity to come up with a convenient story." Giggling, Lulu's eyes transitioned from her embarrassed pink shade to a beautiful deep violet. Veigar felt his heart skip a beat as he took her in once again. How did he get so lucky making friends with such an innocent and gentle yordle like her? Watching Veigar with interest, Lulu took her hat off, letting her hair flow freely. Her ears ruffled slightly, twitching in the cold air. She fidgeted in place, smiling at him.
"I figured while we were showing each other new things, I'd show you what I'm like underneath my cap. After all, I got to briefly see you when we first met!" Veigar opened his mouth to respond, only to stagger backwards as an incredible pain flashed through his head. Wincing, he massaged his forehead with a free hand, trying to soothe the pain. After a few moments of agony, the pain faded. Veigar heaved a sigh of relief, locking eyes with a very worried yordle girl.
"Are you okay? That seemed like a really nasty headache!"
"It's nothing I haven't dealt with before. Headaches are something you grow accustomed to after the past I lived through." Lulu frowned, seemingly unconvinced. She touched his hat gently, staring into his eyes. "Do you trust me?" Veigar frowned, then nodded. It was the first time he'd trusted anyone in a really long time, but Lulu had proven to be a fast and reliable friend. Honestly, he was having a hard time imagining life WITHOUT her nowadays.
Lulu slowly pulled off the hat and held her staff to his face, whispering, "Dewhimsify." The dark mask covering Veigar's face fell, and Lulu's heart leapt to her throat. She took a step back, not out of fear, but shock. A deep scar in the pattern of a cross ran deep in Veigar's forehead, just barely missing his right eye.
"Veigar…" Veigar took Lulu's hands in his, shaking his head sadly.
"For your sake, Lulu, don't ask any further. This isn't even the worst of it." Lulu swallowed the bile in her mouth and nodded silently, returning to her task. A gentle pink glow emanated from her palms as she took her pointer finger and thumb, pressing them against Veigar's forehead. Closing her eyes, she focused her magic into a pulse, trying to feel her way around Veigar's head and discover the source of the pain.
Visualizing a person's brain, especially one as complicated as Veigar's, was difficult. It was akin to describing the air around you. There was never a word that felt truly accurate. One thing that leapt to Lulu's mind when she navigated the faint magical fields interweaving Veigar's very being was that it felt… taught. Like a string being drawn too tight. Delicately, she reached forward and focused her fairy energy into Veigar, attempting to give some slack to the pain he was clearly still experiencing. Veigar sighed blissfully as she worked, spurring her onwards.
Taking a step back, Lulu opened her eyes. Veigar was staring intensely at her, his nose twitching slightly, an signal Lulu had learned that meant he was in deep thought. By the Glade! Why would such a handsome yordle like Veigar ever hide his face? Lulu felt herself slipping as she gazed longingly at Veigar's attractive visage, trying to put a word to the feeling churning in her stomach.
Veigar smiled at her and leaned backwards. "You really are the greatest yordle I've ever met, Lu. I haven't felt this good in… decades. Centuries, even."
Lulu nodded. "I wasn't able to fix all of it. There's something seriously wrong with your body, Vei. Some kind of… curse." Veigar put a hand on her shoulder, smiling sadly.
"Lulu. You mean more to me than anyone ever has before. Your friendship is near and dear to my heart, and that is why I ask of you to please try and forget what you saw inside me. That is my burden to bear, not yours." Veigar tried to make a tough face, to show that he meant it, but inside he knew he wasn't being honest.
Lulu furrowed her brow, then snatched Veigar by the wrist and pulled him into an embrace. "I'm always going to be here for you, Vei. Just like you were for me." Veigar shuddered, letting the tension dissipate for just a few moments. Pulling away, he locked eyes with Lulu.
"Lu, there's something I want to tell you. But I can't do it here. There's a chance someone might be listening. Will you come by my mansion tomorrow? It's near one of the entrances to Bandle City, just south of the Varju mountains." Lulu's eyes widened and she nodded.
"I actually planned on visiting my family's grave near there anyways. W-would you be willing to keep me company during?"
Veigar smiled, taking her slender hand in his. "Absolutely."
And bam! Perfect setup for the next chapter, which will sorta be like Chapter 4 pt 2. I hope you all enjoyed! Now for the reviews :3
StrangeHuman on posted: I loved this story, you really have to continue it. VeigarxLulu is my favorite ship of lol.
Response: Hell yea I'm gonna continue! I personally experienced what it's like to get super invested in a VeigarLulu fic, only to be left unsatisfied. I'd NEVER do that to y'all. And HELL YES, VEILU for LIFE! It honestly shows a real depth that most ships lack, IMO. They both have so many similar experiences, yet are different enough to not tread on each other's toes. They're always there for one another, supporting each other! It's really a very sweet and perfect ship. Honestly, it's my favorite ship in ANY form of Media. Don't tell Nepeta :33
rosegoldmagnum on Ao3 posted: WOW I'M LOVING THIS SO FAR! It's so well written, perfectly paced and so much in character! *o*
I can't wait for the next chapter! 3
Response: Hell yea girl! You KNOW it. Thanks for the lovely compliments, and I hope you continue to encourage and motivate me as I move forward :D
nono on Ao3 posted: such a delightful read, i can't wait for the next chapter myself +o+ 3
Response: Ask and ye shall receive! Thank you so much for reading my fic! I hope you're enjoying how I'm handling it. I'm involving quite a few characters, I just hope I don't mess em up and ruin the story X.X
Anyways that's it for reviews! Again, thank you so so much for reading, and I hope to see you in the next chapter 3