Who ever knew life could get so busy in so little time. What was going to be a nice month of relaxation turned into a month of house renovations, during which I got the tedious job of painting. Although, judging by how few of the authors I follow are actually posting updates, I'd say I'm not the only one who's busy at the moment.
So, let's talk Sentimental for a second. This chapter was so hard to get right, and I ended up writing quite a few other silly stories while trying to get it right. The next chapters are practically finished, and if I get some free time, will try and get them out to you pretty soon. As for the other silly stories, most of them are not League related, and the few that are will not be posted, save for a really cute one, which I will not post until I have finished Sentimental because of there being a communal character (makes it easier on me and my mental organisation). As for how many chapters are left, I would expect there to be only two more before I reach a reasonable finish point for what I'm essentially going to call part one of Sentimental. Obviously not everything will be resolved, but where's the fun in perfect endings?
For those of you who follow me, you may also be happy to hear I have started work on the second part of The Heartseekers. If you don't know what that is, look it up, it's still my favourite work (Don't be frightened by the M rating, it is mostly T).
Chapter 7 - Ultimatum
Zed was one with the shadows. Soldiers were looking around in a state of panic, facing ever bit of darkness, only to be pulled in by the one they didn't see, their life ending in a flash of blade. He hadn't stopped laughing, the horrible sound now echoing throughout the chamber, adding to the panic. Shen had taken the distraction to sweep up Akali and fight his way to one of the walls, checking on her health. The only person who seemed out of place was the dark figure, who was now leaning on his sword, watching the display with a disinterested look. He yawned, stretching his shoulders. Zed seized this moment, leaping from the shadows and attempting to drive his blades into the figure's back. That was a mistake. The figure expertly sidestepped, bringing his sword around and using the hilt to smack the back of Zed's head, sending him stumbling forwards and onto the floor. The soldiers, seeing this, regained some composure, directing their weapons towards the assassin. Zed quickly shadow jumped behind them, taking out a couple more guards as he went. Shen had now joined the fight, fending off any guard that got too close to Akali. The latter herself was doing her best to help, lending advice and warnings to Shen as he feinted and dodged numerous attacks. Zed used the shadows to circle the room, taking down guards when he could, but always waiting for another opening to attack the figure. He wouldn't make the same mistake again. Shen threw a blade towards a guard, who dodged, only to have the blade continue to travel towards the dark figure. The figure swung his blade, deflecting the blow, but granting Zed an opportunity to engage. This time Zed went for the legs, far harder to sidestep. He felt his blades cut through cloth and leather, but the figure was too quick to take any flesh wounds. He brought the sword around on Zed, the black blade leaving a shadowy arc as it travelled, Zed narrowly avoiding the edge of it. For the first time, Zed was face to face with his rival. The warrior let out a deep sigh, shaking his head at Zed.
"I expected better from you Zed." Zed growled. He didn't feel any need to stand around and listen to some creep try to make him feel guilty. He launched himself at the figure, blades moving in a refined style that would spell the end for most people. The swordsman was not one of them. Impossibly fast blade movements would match every strike that Zed threw. The figure had started laughing, and this only grew in volume as their fight continued.
Eventually, Zed was pushed back, skidding along the floor but maintaining his feet. He looked up in time to see the black blade being thrust into the ground, then the world started to shake. A crack began to make its way across the floor, splitting the room into two. There was a deafening crack, and the crack grew in diameter, separating the groups on the two sides. On Zed's side stood only him and the figure, while on the other side was Shen and the rest of the soldiers. Shen was yelling something and pointing, but Zed could barely make out what was being said, his ears still recovering from the noise. Following where Shen was pointing, he saw what he was talking about. Akali was desperately crawling her away from the expanding crack, stuck on Zed's side. The assassin recovered, rushing over to help the ninja to her feet. He grabbed her arm and pulled her up, throwing her arm over his shoulder and rushing her away. Akali let out a little yelp, and Zed realised this was the first contact they had shared outside of the institute in many years. He cursed himself for the thought, his stomach playing around with him once more. His thoughts were cut short however as he was forced to duck underneath another slash of the horrible black blade. Using the shadows he dashed to the other edge of his side. Looking over at Shen, he knew he didn't have enough energy to traverse the gap. That left one option. Turning towards the only available hallway, he lifted Akali fully into his arms and began to run.
The hallway was dark, not a torch in sight to light the way. This suited Zed, the shadows gave him all the clarity he required, but it made things difficult when he heard footsteps behind him.
"You can't run forever Zeddy boy, I will catch you!" Zed shadow jumped forwards just in time, the sound of a blade being swung behind him telling him he had narrowly avoided death. He knew he would normally be able to shadow jump his way to safety, but he was running out of energy, and every jump now was taking its toll. They continued down the seemingly never-ending hallway, which Zed had noticed was gradually heading upwards. He also could have sworn it was twisting, but that could just be his head spinning from the over-exertion. Eventually light spilled in from the end of the hallway, and Zed doubled his efforts to get out, shadow jumping forwards to make some more distance. Zed ran out of the hallway, stopping himself before he accidentally launched off the balcony onto the forest below. They were outside now, the early morning air filling his senses, giving him some well-needed energy. Again he heard the sound of a blade and, knowing he could not keep going forwards, split from Akali, gently pushing her to one side as he dodged to the other. In the early morning light, the dark figure seemed a lot more intimidating. His whole presence seemed to counter-act the warmth the sun was emitting, sending a chill down Zed's spine as they faced each other.
It was therefore a surprise when the figure started to laugh, lowering his weapon. He took a step forward, Zed raising his weapons defensively, not that it fazed the warrior in any way.
"I always wanted to meet you, but not under these circumstances." With an almighty thrust, the warrior jammed his sword blade first into the stone floor, leaning up against it with his elbow.
"I genuinely had hope for you." The warrior's words were strangely wistful, confusing Zed to no small end. He hated politics, but given the state he was in, he decided diplomacy was probably the smarter option. He laughed along with the dark figure.
"Well, I wouldn't want your hope to be misplaced. How about we start with some basic pleasantries? What's your name?" Zed lowered his weapons as he said this, returning his blades to his back. Akali meanwhile had found the strength to sit up, watching the exchange with heightened curiosity.
"Very well then, my name is Fole, General Fole." Zed couldn't resist laughing.
"Fole? What kind of name is that?" The general just smiled.
"It was the one my home gave to me, and it is the one I will keep in respect for that." Zed grunted.
"You seem to really like your home, where is that exactly?" Fole shook his head, making a repeated tsk sound as he did.
"Now Zed, this works both ways, so now it is my turn to ask the questions. Why are you here?" The laughing stopped, both sides slipping into seriousness once more. Akali fidgeted, the hostile change putting her a little on edge.
"What kind of stupid question is that? You were going to kill one of my friends." Fole burst into laughter, not the earlier jovial sound, this one tainted with sarcasm.
"Oh Zed, I know you well enough to know that you couldn't give a damn about friends. Hell, not long ago you would have happily killed most of the people you now call 'friend'. So how about you try answering the question again?" Zed was reminded of exactly how much he hated verbal debate, now deciding what answer would move the conversation onwards. He examined his foe once more, his stance and demeanour, what he had said and done. He held himself with so much pride, with an indeterminable amount of respect, and soon Zed had a plan.
"What answer do you want to hear?" Fole smiled at this, relaxing his shoulders as Zed let a small smile cross his mind. He'd been right, arrogant men often like the sound of being right.
"I want you to realise how ridiculous you are acting. You are many things Zed, but you are not an idiot. You may be cold, merciless, brutal even, but you are always calculating, and I admire that. You believe, nay, know that power is the true judge in this world, and that one's respect should be given to the strongest. There, we are the same."
"Go to hell." Zed couldn't help but burst at being in any way similar to the dark figure. He lunged forward clumsily, only to be sidestepped by Fole. The latter continued talking, unfazed by the outburst.
"We both believe the strongest should rule, but my thinking is a little larger. All these Noxians and Demacians flaunting around like they are the greatest powers in this world. Piltover and Zaun racing to the greatest technological breakthrough. Bandle city's 'ideal' politics and the Frejlord's brutality, but none of these know what true power is anymore. Ionia has fallen to the back of everyone's mind, a lost thought in the everyday struggles of lesser powers. They see as a sign of peace, of tranquillity, when we were made for war. Do not deny this Zed, you are living proof of what Ionia has to offer, clean and quick death, such overwhelming power none could hope to stand in our way. You and I, we are the future of this world, the warriors of today, and the emperors of tomorrow." Fole had begun slowly approaching Zed, who had instinctively been backing away until his back was against the wall opposite the drop to the forest floor below. He hadn't realised it, but he had been outplayed, Fole positioning it so Zed's only real hope of escape was to shadow leap behind the general, a predictable move that would no doubt lead to a counter-attack. Zed cursed himself internally, gripping his blades a little tighter. Fole noticed this, and reaching beside him hefted the unnaturally large sword over his shoulder, sighing deeply.
"But sadly that dream has begun to fade, and you have fallen victim to the plague that spreads its claws across all of Valoran. This 'Institute of War', an organisation that specialises in war but encourages nothing but peace, how pathetic! Even you, one of Ionia's greatest, spends a little time there and soon you'd rather take a champion to bed than fulfil a straight forward contract." Fole reached into his coat, removing a familiar scroll of paper, although Zed was certain it could not be the original.
"The Dark Sovereign, just say her name to yourself. Think on all the darkness and pain that name has caused, and how you were too weak to put a stop to it. I even offered you a reward, and a bloody generous one at that! No, you are a disappointment, a bloody disgrace to the name of Ionia." Fole drew his sword back, readying for another attack.
"But alas, I am nothing if not a fair man, so I offer you this last chance. The contract still stands, and should you slay the Sovereign, you can take my place. Picture it Zed, yourself at the head of the greatest army we anyone has ever seen! This is the last kindness I will grant you, as you have already taken much of my time. This is your ultimatum." Zed was silent, the whole world seeming to mirror this and falling silent to. He wasn't sure what he could do; it seemed to be his life or Syndra's, which as far as he was concerned would mean his life anyway. He found himself searching his mind for some sign of hope. When he could not find one amongst his thoughts, he turned to instinct, and was still lost. Fear sinking in, he turned to the last means of reassurance he had left. Fole noticed, turning his head to follow Zed's gaze.
"Is she the problem? That ninja has threatened your livelihood for years, and now, just as you have a chance to be rid of her and every other enemy you've ever had, you turn to her? Is it because of your past, a long lost desire for the love you once had? Or is it jealousy, of your dear brother who you could never best, even with winning her heart. Oh how it must hurt you so deeply, how it must fuel you, drive you. This is your chance at revenge, a chance to settle everything, don't tell me you'd let that go because of an old flame. Of all the things you struck me as Zed, I'd have never said you'd be so sentimental." That was the last straw as far as Zed was concerned, and with a newfound hatred, he felt energy surge through his body. He met Fole's eyes, a smile creeping across his face.
"Thanks for the offer Fole, but I don't want it. How about you go and shove it up your…" Zed never got to finish the statement as Fole roared out in pain. Zed wasted no time slipping past the injured general, pulling Akali's kama out of Fole's back as he did so. Rushing over and picking Akali up bridal style, the two looked out over their only way out; downwards.
"Hope these past few minutes have made you trust me." Akali barely had time to respond to the statement as Zed turned to face the angry general. Fole had blood pouring down his arm, but he never loosened his grip on the blade.
"You're a dead man Zed."
"We'll see about that." Zed stepped backwards, the pair falling off the balcony and into the awaiting trees below.
