Author's Note:
Wheeew, what a week. Filled with internet failure, writer's block, and long drives to add on to it!

Luckily, I have time to write now, and a working internet connection to post, so, updates ahoy!
Enjoy!

Chapter 2: 'Fortune and Fate!'

Decisions

part 1 of 4

April 20, 21 CLE

When I woke up the next morning, I found myself oriented upside-down somehow. I'm not quite sure how I managed that. I got up out of bed and sat on the side of the bed. I bent down and grabbed my pants before heading to the bathroom to tidy up before going out.

When I came out of the bathroom I walked over to the wardrobe located across from my bed. I rummaged through various outfits until I came to my white karate outfit. I decided to wear that for a change. As I was undoing my pants I heard a knock at the door. I redid my pants and walked over and opened it.

"Good morning Kennen." Akali said to me.

"Hello, Akali. Something wrong?"

"No, I was just going to tell you that Shen and I were heading to Ionia for the day for some training exercises, I was wondering if you'd like to join us."

"Well, I'd love to, Akali, and any other time I would. But, I think I'll stay." I said to her

"Well, we're leaving now, okay?"

"Alright. Tell Shen that I said goodbye."

"Will do." She said, as she walked off towards the door.

Shortly after I heard them exchange a few words together and then open the door and leave. I wonder what kind of training they're doing that they have to go all the way back to Ionia.

"Heh, so THATS what they're calling it now.."

I walked back to the wardrobe and continued to get dressed. I opened a drawer on the wardrobe to find a new set of undergarments. Just as I had finished taking my pants off, I heard a loud 'poof' before a cloud of purple smoke blew past me.

"What th-" I started as I turned around. "SKYLER! Ahh!" I yelled, covering myself up as much as I could with my hands

"WOAH! Sorry Kennen!" Skyler said as he frantically turned around and buried his head in my bed.

While he was turned around I quickly donned the undergarments that were dropped on the floor.

"Jeez, Skyler! You're really lucky I'm not armed, or you probably would have a shuriken in your chest right now!" I said. "I mean, you really could have knocked first"

"Yeah I know, sorry. I miscalculated the position of your dorm's entrance.." He said, his voice being heavily muffled inside of the blankets.

I rolled my eyes.

"Whatever, its okay. Its not like you haven't seen me naked before anyway."

"When was that?" He asked, his voice still being muffled from the blankets

"You can turn around now, you know." I said, now turned back to the wardrobe to rearrange things. I still didn't have my outfit on, and was currently in a pair of small, tightly fitted shorts. I made sure everything in the wardrobe was still neat and tidy before continuing.

"Remember that time we went swimming in that lake that we found in the forest, and my shorts came off when I jumped in?"

"Oh yeah, now I remember. And I took mine off so you wouldn't be so embarrassed."

"Yeah, I remember you doing that."
I picked up my karate outfit and slipped on the bottom of the Gi.

"He's looking at my ass..."

"Enjoying the view?" I said, before turning around to Skyler as I slipped the top of the Gi on.

"Wha- I wasn't looking there, if that's what you're thinking, Kennen!" He said, stammering a bit and scratching the back of his head.

"You know you're not really good at lying." I said with a smirk as I tied the black belt around my waist.

"Ehm, anyway, are you busy today?" He said, quickly changing his tone to his regular one.

"No, I was just getting dressed to go eat breakfast at the cafe. I'm free for the next 6 days."

"Yeah, I'm not scheduled for any. Why?"

"Well... I know this sounds silly but I want to join the League, and maybe you could help me out?"

I looked at Skyler for a moment.

"You can't be serious." I said to him.

"But I am, Kennen! I've wanted to be a part of the League of Legends for a long time now! Come on! I really need your help!"

"I don't know, Skyler. Most of the time, champions are heroes of their nation, or highly skilled warriors! I don't know if they'd even give you a chance at joining."

"I know that, Kennen. But, maybe the council would give me a chance if I have a referral from another champion!"

"Well, I gu-" I started

"YAAAYY! Thanks Ken!" He yelled, as he ran over and picked me up into a hug.

"Skyler! Okay okay, lets go!" I said.

As soon as he set me down I punched him in the shoulder.

"Ow! What was that for?!"

"You know I hate it when you call me Ken."

"Sheesh, that hurt!"

"Oh stop being a baby, lets go." I said, walking over to the door.

We left my room and proceeded down the hallway to the entrance of the dorm. I opened the door and allowed Skyler to exit before me. We walked down the hall towards the main hallway. It was early in the day, so it wasn't very busy yet. I passed a summoner on the way that goes by the name Electrify, who greeted me as I walked by. Electrify used to summon me every match he played, just about. He said he was going to name himself after me, but a summoner with that name already existed, so he substituted the "L" for an "I". I still call him Electrify, though.

We walked by the cafe and Kamir was inside wiping down the table I normally sit at. She turned and noticed me before running over to talk to me.

"Hey Kennen! You're a little bit early today! I was just about to get your food ready!" She said

"Its quite alright Kamir, I'm actually heading to talk to the council right now. Don't worry about my breakfast right now, okay?"

"Well alright, but be sure to stop by later, okay?"

"Will do Kamir. Bye!" I said as I waved to her.

We continued along the hallway, I passed Twisted Fate along the way.

"Mornin, lil' part'ner"

He said, as he tipped his hat to me.

"Hello, Fate." I said, continuing along.

"You're pretty sociable, that's different." Skyler said.

"And you haven't said a word since we started walking, that's different."

"Touche.. Well, I really don't have too much to say."

"Anyway, the council is just ahead. I hope you're ready."

"As I'll ever be, Kennen." He replied.

The council hall is a large room at the very end of the north hall. Inside is a long table that the council members normally preside around, and through a door behind them are the summoning rooms, where summoners control the champions on the fields of justice. There's two rooms next to eachother, with a crystal above each, one colored blue, one colored purple. This crystal is the nexus crystal, handcrafted by each team. A clone linked to the actual crystal is placed inside each nexus on the field. The loser's crystal is destroyed along with the structure containing it on the fields of justice, causing the destruction of the real crystal, effectively rendering the work put into crafting it useless. The winning team's crystal is divided between the team members, with a reflection of their champion's best moment in that match constantly shining inside of it.

Directly in front of the entrance to the council is a fountain, teeming with magical energy. We walked around the fountain and towards the council doors. As we approached, they slowly slid open, the same way they did in my judgment. I had a feeling that there will be a new face in the league soon.

"Ahh, The Heart of the Tempest. What can I do for you, Ionian warrior?" I heard one of the council members say.

"Greetings, council members. Today I would like to introduce you to Skyler, a skilled warrior that would like to join the League."

"Hmm. Kennen, you do know that not just anybody can join the League, right?" Another council member said.

"Yes, I know. Skyler isn't just your regular warrior. Skyler was a warrior that originally trained with Shen, Akali, myself, and Zed in the Kinkou Order."

"Hmm?" I heard the council member spark up with interest.

"Really... Tell me more about him." The first member said.

"While, Skyler is not a member of the Kinkou, he is a force to be reckoned with. He was enrolled in the most advanced assassin training course that the Kinkou had to offer, and completed the entire thing with ease."

"So why is he not a member of the Kinkou Order currently?"

"I couldn't go through with the final trial that the order had for me, sir." Skyler said.

"And what reason would you have for that?"

"I had to fight my best friend in combat, to the death."

"Hmm.. And, I suppose that Kennen would be that individual that you refused to confront?"

Skyler nodded.

"Well then.." A third council member said.

"..In order to test your abilities, I shall arrange for a match between you, Skyler, and Kennen. You two shall be fighting on the Proving Grounds, with all restrictions removed."

"What!? I don't want to hurt Kennen!"

"Do not fear, child. The institute does not condone battles that could lead to permanent death. If one of you were to fall on the battlefield, then your soul itself would be saved by the summoner. However, since you two shall be combating each-other without the use of a summoner, the institute's auxiliary life support system will be put into effect. This is the same system that is used in practice matches between champions. It produces the same effect as having a summoner, saving your life force, and re-incarnating you. Is this understood?"

"Yes, I get it now."

"And do you approve of this match?"

"Yes."

"And you, Heart of the Tempest?"

I turned to Skyler one last time, he nodded.

"Yes, I accept."