Here's the next one. I decided that it was finally time to put in a bit of the most popular fanfic champ. Tell me how it worked out please =)
The sun beat down. It was relentless.
Just like the attack of the damn Ionians.
Riven shook her head for a moment, flicking some gathered sweat off her brow. She looked up again. A hopeless situation looked back.
Left and right, Noxian soldiers in the Fury company were falling. Ionians poured out from the forest in front of them, the never-ending stream beating back the remaining Noxians.
"Captain, what do we do?" a furiously shaking private asked. New from the conscription camps, Riven couldn't even recall his name. "Ma'am, what do we d-" his eyes went wide as an arrow pierced his throat. He could only gurgle as he slowly fell onto the ground. Riven looked up again, rapidly slicing upwards, quickly bisecting a charging Ionian.
But it didn't matter. The enraged Ionians had now circled around them, outnumbering the remaining Noxians more than a hundred-fold. The only Noxians left were pressed into a small circle, a few moaning wounded protected by the backs of the soldiers left standing.
The two sides stood at a temporary standstill for a moment, staring at each other.
But Riven stepped forwards, out of the ring. It was a small chance, but if her soldiers could prove themselves strong enough, they might make it out of this fight.
She looked behind her. The remaining soldiers, grizzled veterans and new conscripts alike, nodded back at her, readied their equipment, and narrowed their eyes.
And at that moment, Riven knew. Noxus was stronger. Noxus would prevail.
She concentrated on the Ionian leader before her- a young woman, eyes infused with magic. She saw nothing but that woman and the obstacles between them. She tasted nothing but her sweat, her body stressing itself to prove itself. She heard nothing but her own labored breathing and the rush of blood.
She took a step. Then another. Then another as she broke out into a run, sword held behind her, prepared to spin around and allow rotation of her body to aid in her strike.
But something was off. She was alone.
Where was everyone else? All the other soldiers- Marcus, John, Peter, Mortius- where'd they all go?
She turned around- just in time to see a green ball splatter half of her remaining men, as well as a large amount of surrounding Ionians.
Two seconds later, there were no more men anymore. There were only rapidly disintegrating armor, weapons, and skeletons.
But- what- what were they? What had the power to just make men disappear, to just melt-
The Melters.
Riven turned left in horror. John and another Ionian were engaged in a furious duel- John was winning, on the offensive when they were suddenly lathered in caustic green.
She turned right- Matthias had just plunged his spear into the heart of a flailing Ionian before turning and slashing at another one, eager to avenge his comrades. But it didn't matter, because a new mixture, now red, burned through them, leaving nothing but a burnt odor.
This wasn't a contest of strength. Noxians everywhere were proving themselves, yet it didn't matter. The acid that fell from the sky didn't care who was stronger- just who happened to be in its way.
How was this right? Why did being strong even matter anymore, when people just melted regardless of strength or skill?
And why was she still fighting? Noxus, with this barrage, had showed they didn't care who might or might not live, just indiscriminately slaughtering everyone in the area. Why was she still here?
It appeared others had also reached that conclusion, as Ionians and Noxians alike began sprinting for the safety of the forest. But the Melter fire just followed them, men screaming in horrible agony as their flesh and bones disintegrated within moments.
Suddenly, due to a hidden sixth sense, Riven pirouetted and slashed. The cannonfire directed at her splashed over her left arm and torso rather than hitting her on the face. Caustic acids quickly began eating throught the Noxian black plate she wore.
It was then that Riven made a choice. She would not allow these traitors to the Noxian way to destroy the true path. She would prove herself stronger than them. Forcing all her inner will through her sword, light burst out from her in a nova of green, exorcising the poison from her form, and granting her renewed will and strength.
She would not give up. She would be stronger.
And she would turn Noxus back into the great ideal that it once was.
Riven watched with saddened, yet determined amber eyes as the sun rose over the scene of the battlefield. It had happened so many years ago, yet the memory was so clear.
She sighed. It always hurt, coming back to the site of her greatest nightmare, and moment of greatest conviction. But she needed to remind herself what she needed to do, and why she needed to do it.
She gazed out over the patches of brown interspersed with the meadows of bright green grass and colorful wildflowers. Those Melter patches never did go away.
Her eyes narrowing in a squint, Riven noticed a person standing a bit further away. Who else would come here?
Slowly making her way over to the other person, Riven debated what she should say, as to not startle the stranger.
That question was answered for her, when the figure suddenly turned around and said with great venom, "What do you want, Noxian scum?"
Riven jumped for a moment as she realized just who was standing before her. "Soraka. What brings you here?"
Soraka's eyes narrowed into a glare. "I could say the same for you… Noxian."
Riven glanced away for a moment. "Some…memories," She managed to force out.
"Memories? What mem- oh" Soraka interrupted herself. "And just what happened here for you?"
"Just the scene of the worst betrayal I'd ever encountered," said Riven bitterly. "Apparently, the entire thing I'd fought for my entire life was a lie, to be thrown away at a moment's notice."
Soraka let out a bitter laugh. "Betrayal?" she howled. "You don't know betrayal." Riven's only response was to cock her head in confusion. Clairifying, Soraka said "This was where I saw the Melters in person. I called upon the stars to do something, but they refused. I had to take matters into my own hands- and they turned me into… this" She gestured at her own legs- now like a goat- and her unicorn-like horn. "My only hope now is to make the stars understand the horror that is Warwick and Singed." Soraka turned away to study the stars that had not yet been chased away by the morning sun.
Warwick and Singed- it always went back to those two. They'd killed Riven's company, they'd killed all the Ionians, they'd destroyed the Noxian ideal. Warwick and Singed… they had to be stopped.
Maybe this was a possibility of doing so.
"Soraka," Riven burst out. "Help me punish Warwick and Singed." Soraka turned back around, with a raised eyebrow. "They need to be stopped somehow, and together we can do it," Riven continued.
"And how do I know you won't just backstab me, Noxian?" Soraka asked.
"I have a grudge against them too," Riven said. "They destroyed the thing I lived for. As long as they still live, I cannot rebuild it."
Soraka turned her head, studying something far off in the distance. After a few long minutes, an answer finally came. "Alright."
Riven stepped forwards, holding out a hand still surrounded by her last piece of Noxian plate. Soraka stepped forwards, her small hand engulfed by the massive gauntlet, but pulsing with magic.
Together, they clasped their hands, silhouetted against the sun.
Together, they would get revenge against Warwick and Singed.
And together, they would make the world a better place.