Author's note: I know it's a week late, but uni has been hectic. I had a 40% assignment due in on Friday and it ate up my entire week. So sorry about that. Anyway, enjoy an extra long chapter :).
Wow, Ziggs thought, the science fair is packed.
The brown-furred yordle glanced about the busy hall, eyes eagerly drinking in the vast array of projects and yordles scattered about the room. He wasn't able to stray far from their booth however, so after twisting back and forth on the spot to gain as much of a visual as he could of the surrounding projects, he turned back to where Rumble and Teemo were putting the finishing touches on their own presentation.
Looking at the colourful slides tacked up out the walls surrounding their small metallic levitator, the eleven-year-old felt a bubble of pride welling up inside him. To think, they almost hadn't managed to piece their project back together in time. Staring at the display now, it hardly seemed real and he knew – without a hint of bias – that it would take something seriously spectacular to beat them now.
"Earth to Ziggs," Rumble sent his spaced out friend a dry look. "Want to help us out here?"
The brown yordling sent him sheepish grin, "Woops, right ok."
As the three started pinning the last poster in place, Teemo spoke up, "I wonder where Tristana is. The shows about to start."
The other two boys didn't answer. They still had yet to spot their blue-skinned friend, despite the anxious, near-constant vigilance the trio had maintained. Partially this was due to how late it had gotten, but for the most part it was due to their apprehension over the girl's potential actions once she did arrive. Their elation at obtaining the picture of their tomboy friend in a dress the other day was slowly churning into nervous unease as time drew on. After all, the three boys knew how very real her threat of her kicking their butts was.
Which was why, when the blue yordling's messy, white ponytail finally came into view, Ziggs and Rumble yelped in fear and immediately dove behind Teemo's broad form.
"Gee thanks guys," Teemo shot at them sarcastically, before sending the approaching girl his brightest grin. "Hi Trist. How was the party?"
Tristana sent the three of them a withering look before answering, "Lucky for you, I actually had a really good time last night. So I am feeling gracious enough to let your traitorous actions yesterday slide."
The boys let out a collective breath as Rumble and Ziggs slid out from behind their meat-shield.
Eyeing the girl's unreadable expression, Ziggs' curiosity got the better of him and he asked, "So what happened to make you in such a good mood? Did you punch Litani in the face?"
"Better," the blue girl grinned. "I got to meet Artemis Dubear."
"No way!" That impressed her friends. "What's she like? Was she as awesome as her interviews make her out to be?"
"She's even cooler in person," Tristana told them. "We talked practically the entire night. I got to hear all about all her expeditions and training and she introduced me to so many interesting people. And I told her about you guys and all the stuff we'd gotten up to – which she found hilarious. But the best thing was when she told me that I reminded her of herself when she was younger! And that she thought I'd make a really good Megling if I continued to work hard. And, she told me that if I ever wanted some help to come visit her! How cool is that!"
The huge grin the girl had been fighting back all morning finally broke through as her friends gave her amazed hugs and hi-fives.
"Awesome!" Ziggs grin grew just as big as his friend's as he gave her an excited hi-five.
Trying not to let the elation go to her head too much, Tristana turned her focus to their current situation. "So, how's the project going?"
"It's been going great," Rumble told her. "We got it all working yesterday. So this morning we've just been doing some final tweaking. Wanna see?"
"Duh."
Fiddling with the switches, the cobalt yordling got the machine up and running, a low humming sound the only indication of the power behind the nullifying field.
With great care, Teemo placed a single marble into the levitation field. As it continued to float soundly there, Tristana felt her grin grow. "Cool."
Before she could say anything else however, a conceited voice spoke up behind them. "Well what do you know: you four turned up with a working project after all."
Grins turning sour, the quartet turned as one to face the smug teen; Ziggs placing a hand on Tristana's shoulder as Teemo subtly positioned himself behind Rumble, ready to grab the smaller boy should he try to lunge for Klive. They all knew now was not the time for a fist fight. They'd worked way too hard to get their project here already; they didn't need to get suspended because the older yordle was goading them. Not that the senior was going to make it easy for them.
Feigning concerned curiosity the teenager continued, "I heard you were having some problems with it." The innocent words were betrayed by the pug-yordle's smirk as his eyes found Rumble.
The cobalt yordle's grip on the table was iron-tight, knuckles turning white from the pressure as he refused to meet the older boy's eyes.
"What? Nothing to say? That doesn't seem like your usual big-mouthed self. Is it possible that you've finally learned your place at the bottom of the social pecking order and are showing me the respect I deserve?"
His beady eyes glinted with malice and Ziggs' grip on Tristana's arm tightened as she tried to storm forward; all four kits noticing the increased shaking of the smaller boy as he tried to gain control over his repressed emotions. But he still refused to rise to the bait.
Before Klive could mock the younger yordle any further, Teemo stepped forward, shielding his friend from sight. "Problems occur all the time in challenging situations. But, as you can see, that didn't stop us from completing our science project. Now, the judges have started coming around, so I'd suggest you get back to your own project." The frosty words were polite but the message was clear: get lost.
Klive conceded with a smirk: he knew he'd won this round. "Fair enough. Guess I'll see you on the stage twerps."
After the teen was out of earshot, Tristana let out an explosive breath. "That jerk! Wish I could give him a piece of my mind." She rounded on Ziggs, "Why'd you stop me? I could have wiped that smug grin off his face. And why didn't you stand up for yourself Rumble?" The furious girl's gaze landed on her small friend as the blue boy relaxed his death grip on the table.
"I didn't want to start a fight here," he mumbled in a small voice, before sending her a small smile. "Besides, we don't need to get revenge now anyway."
Catching the conspiratorial grins the three boys were sharing, Tristana leaned closer, "Ok spill: what did you do?"
"Well actually," Teemo told her, "Rumble and I didn't do anything."
The blue girl shot him a disbelieving look.
"We really didn't," the pale yordle told her honestly. "But Ziggs on the other hand…"
Tristana's grin grew as she worked out where they were going with this.
"He graciously decided to help Klive and his friends out when they weren't looking," Rumble finished.
The yordle in question's grin grew so big it practically split his face in half. "What? I was trying to help. And if it accidently, oh I don't know, spontaneously combusts when they start it up, that's not my fault is it?"
Tristana burst into laughter. "Your deviousness amazes me sometimes."
As the next couple of hours passed, the four friends spent their time waiting for the adjudicators by enjoying the vast array of wonders contained within the science fair. Taking turns to watch their project, the quartet took the opportunity to explore the packed hall, excitedly taking in the different science experiments and relentlessly questioning the interesting groups about their work. All the while their families sporadically checked in on them as they too contentedly wandered about the large fair. As all four of the yordling's entire family had turned up to the event (including all eight of Ziggs' siblings), there was also almost always someone nearby to keep the yordle stuck at the booth entertained.
As their time slot drew closer, the four yordlings reconverged at their project, Ziggs hurrying back just before the judges made it to their station. Hardly intimidated by the three imposing figures, the four excited yordlings launched flawlessly into their presentation. Calmly, they took turns explaining the concept of their project, eagerly demonstrating their device and easily answering all the curious questions the adults had. Interest peaked, the adjudicators continued to question the four, well past their 10-minute time slot.
Finally, the female judge motioned to her companions and the three of them left with an impressed nod.
As soon as the adults were out of sight, a round of hi-fives started amongst the four smug friends.
"Totally nailed it," Teemo smiled, landing a double hi-five with Rumble.
"Yeah," Ziggs crowed as he and Tristana performed their complex victory handshake. "There's no way we're not going to win now!"
Despite the victory the four yordle kids felt, the fair continued peacefully as the judges move on. Sitting contently at their table, the quartet chatted animatedly about their favourite science projects (other than their own of course) as they munched on the corn-dogs and Honeywater cupcakes their parents had bought them.
Tristana had just grabbed the last chocolate frosted cupcake when a large explosions sounded, shaking the room around them. Suppressing their grins, the four yordlings peered around the parapet to observe the commotion.
As expected, Klive and his two friends stood coughing next to a large cloud of black smoke, all three covered from head to toe in soot – as were the three disgruntled judges before them. And beside the six blackened yordles stood their vice principal, Miss Pringer, who was currently giving the three older boys a thorough chewing out. "I know the combustion rules are new, but you are not exempt from them. Indeed, I am appalled: as seniors of our school you especially are required to uphold the standard for our younger students. Therefore, as well as being disqualified from the competition you will also have two weeks of detention."
"But we-" Klive started.
"No buts! If you think your status of grade grants you special privileges you are sorely mis-"
"Excuse me, Miss Pringer," Mr Ranger politely stopped the older yordle with a serious expression, "but I believe there is a bigger issue to be addressed here."
The quartet exchanged curious looks as the older teacher pulled a small component out of the fizzled experiment remains.
"Did you put that in there?" Tristana asked Ziggs.
The hazel kit shook his head. "No. I just crossed some wires."
"Then that means…" Teemo trailed off as Mr Ranger turned to the seniors.
"This dual-modulator is one of the most impressive pieces I've ever marked. I would recognise it anywhere. However, as I recall, it was Rumble Welker's invention. Which leaves me with one very, big question: how did it end up in your project?"
"Ah?" As the three older kids fumbled for an answer, Rumble narrowed his eyes in a furious scowl.
"That sneaky, two-faced weasel! Not only did he destroy my workshop, he actually stole one of my inventions too! I was wondering when I couldn't find it, but I thought it was simply amongst the rest of the rubble I haven't cleaned out yet."
"Guess it makes sense why Klive destroyed your workshop now," Teemo added grimly. "He needed that part just as much as he wanted to knock us back a few pegs."
"Well you see," Klive's cat-like friend tried to explain, "Rumble, he-"
"He what? Sabotaged your project? Gave you the part?" Mr Ranger wasn't buying it. "Nice try, but that piece was too well ingrained in your project to be put there by accident. And I know your history well enough to know he wouldn't have just given it to you."
He paused to let that sink in, before turning back to the deputy principal. "Miss Pringer, I believe there was recently a police inquiry into the destruction of a student's property?"
"Yes," the older woman nodded. "The charges included breaking and entering, vandalism and destruction of property of one Chuck Welker and his son Rumble Welker. But there was no evidence of a culprit and thus there was nothing we could do about the situation."
The black-furred male nodded before carefully placing the damaged modulator in the vice principal's hands. "I believe there is your proof."
Face drawing into a serious scowl, the blonde turned back to the seniors. "These are some severe allegations. If proven true, you three will be facing several serious consequences, including expulsion."
"But that's not-" Klive's jaw dropped as he struggled to take in the degrading situation before his eyes landed on the four satisfied faces watching the debacle unfurl from across the room. "You!" he sneered, starting towards the quartet like a raging bull. "You four had something to do with this. I just know it!"
"Uh oh!" Ziggs frantically commented. "Angry Klive headed straight for us."
The four yordlings ducked back around the parapet before stopping in front of their project; all of them unwilling to see it destroyed a second time.
They needn't have bothered however, because as soon as Klive turned the corner he came to a grinding halt. Between the four yordlings and the raging senior stood all sixteen of the quartet's family members.
Charlie walked calmly past Jos and Cam at the very front of the pack (both yordlings eager and ready for a confrontation) to stand before the wide eyed sixteen-year-old. "I believe that it would be best if you rethought your plan to attack our children in the middle of a crowded hall. Don't you?"
Sullenly, and with one last sneer at the quartet, Klive allowed himself to be marched outside with his friends by the vice principal and several members of security.
"Couldn't have happened to a nicer yordle," Rumble sarcastically commented, more than satisfied with their revenge on the older yordle. His friends nodded their agreement before the four of them were swamped by concerned family.
"That was so awesome!" Trist grinned at her dad, from the middle of her anxious parents, causing the white-furred yordle to smile.
Once everyone was reassured that the four yordlings were alright, everything settled back down and the science fair continued as if the major confrontation had not occurred.
Not long after, the event that they had all been waiting for finally commenced. Huddling amongst the crowd with their families, the four yordles exchanged excited grins as the announcer walked on stage, officially starting the award ceremony.
"Well this has been an interesting fair, hasn't it?" the tall yordle joked. "And by far, the projects produced this year have been amongst the most creative and impressive we have ever seen. If it was up to me, I would make you all winners. But in the end of course, we had to narrow it down to three, exceptional projects. But first: the honourable mentions!"
The four yordlings barely payed any attention to the honourable mentions, the excitement and anticipation within them growing with each group of yordles scurrying onto the stage for the green ribbons.
"Let's give a hand to our honourable mentions!"
Nervous hands found each other's and they shared excited grins as the ceremony announcer moved onto the top three winners.
"And now, the moment you've all been waiting for," the tawny yordle began. "In third place, with their unique and innovative Bantley engine prototype is Lila, Rux and Xoran Baraganath!" Three fluffy, white and brown yordlings eagerly ran onto the stage, shaking the judges' hands as they were handed their third place medals.
The quartet politely clapped, their elation and nervousness rising. Every contestant announced brought them closer and closer to the first place prize. But at the same time, it also brought them closer and closer to being disappointed. After all, a small part of them whispered, what if they weren't good enough and they ended up with nothing? Their project was impressive but they were still the youngest grade to participate over several different schools. Despite their certainty earlier, the reality that they still had to compete with a vast array of older and more talented students was slowly sinking in.
"In second place," the announcer continued, causing their doubt to be pushed aside in favour for the excitement setting their heart thrumming against their ribcages, "with a never seen before and quite an impressive sonic levitation device is Tristana Chevalier, Teemo Swiftfoot, Rumble Welker and Ziggs Van Roon!"
As they made their way up to the stage, the four yordles were filled with a mix of elation and disappointment. True, it was still really impressive that the four of them had managed to snag second place in their very first science fair, but there was still a small part of the kids that were upset at not coming first after all the effort they had put in. Still, upon shaking the three official's hands and looking out over the sea of faces with their second place medals, it was easy to let the disappointment go in favour of the overwhelming awe and triumph they felt in this very moment.
Spotting his family's over the top and over eager reaction, Ziggs gave them a huge grin and a wave before the four took their place beside the third place winners.
"And finally, in first place, with a classic and aesthetic baking soda volcano is Tommy Turner!"
The quartet politely clapped as the excited yordle ran onto the stage to claim the large trophy from Captain Whiskerbeard.
Leaving the tubby winner on stage with the famous Captain, the second and third places filed off stage where they were all at once swamped by their enthusiastic families. The fervour surrounding the four was enough to make them grin with pride at their achievement. But as the crowds gradually dispersed, the quartet found themselves falling behind their families.
"I can't believe we were beaten by a soda volcano, of all things," Tristana muttered softly.
"At least it wasn't a potato battery," Ziggs joked.
"And," Teemo added, "we still came second. That's pretty good."
"I know," the girl sighed. "But it still kinda sucks."
The other three nodded glumly in agreement.
"Well, if it was up to me, I definitely would have given you first place."
Startled by the nearby voice, the yordlings spun around to come face to face with the white-bearded yordle standing behind them.
With a chuckle, he winked at their surprised faces. "Howdy."
"No way," as usual Tristana found her voice first. "You're Whiskerbeard. What're you doing here?"
"Well, I was asked to present the winning trophy. I thought that was pretty obvious," the elder male joked.
"We gathered that much," Teemo explained. "But why are you talking to us. Aren't you supposed to be taking pictures with the winner?"
"In a little bit," Whiskerbeard waved that off. "Right now I wanted to talk to you four. That sonic levitator was very impressive. It was an ingenious merging of techmaturgy and I was very sad to not see it win." The four yordlings puffed up at the praise. "Particularly as I know just how talented you must be to have pulled a device like that off. However," here the yordle's tone turned serious, "I also happened to notice that your expertise with technology is not the only talent you four possess."
Smirking at their guilty faces, the old soldier continued, "Thought no one would notice did you? Well don't worry, I'm not going to tell anyone about your escapades. Though I will say this: you four have a lot of potential. Just make sure you use your talents for the right reasons." With one final wink he disappeared into the crowd, leaving the four yordlings stunned from the encounter.
Finally, Rumble put into words what they were all thinking. "Best. Day. Ever!"
And there we have the end of this arc. I hope you enjoyed it as much as I did.
Shout out to Random-P4 for the Bantley engine inspiration for the third place winners :).
Also, has anyone else heard about the new board game Riot has announced. It's called Mechs vs Minions and I've been obsessing over it all week. It looks fantastic and its gotten really good reviews. Plus it has yordles! :D. So keen for when it comes out. You should check it out if you haven't heard about it yet.
Anyway, thank you all so much for your support, I will see you all in about 4 weeks with the new story.