Chapter 5: The Underlying Plot
Ezreal sat across from Annie as the table and continued to explain to her, "okay Annie, here's how it works. This next week we are supposed to fight with most of these other champions so that in two weeks when the tournament begins we can chose our team of five to enter the tournament. many people don't enter, but most enter to gain a political advantage as the winning faction can use their victory to force another faction to give up land or resources. last year the finals of the tournament were the Noxian's and Demacian's. It was quite the grudge match from what I've been told. I didn't see it, I was busy gathering artifacts. I only recently came here because I found a source of ancient arcane energy that lead directly to this place, and I wanted to explore and find it."
Annie nodded, "So, since we aren't really part of any teams, do we have to fight in the tournament?"
"No. You don't have to. Sometimes a group in the League opposed to a certain party winning will create a team and challenge them for their position in the tournament, but only ten teams are allowed to fight in it each year. Most of the major nations are consistent participators; Bandle City, Zaun, Noxus, Demacia, Piltover, and even the Institute brings out the monsters who live in the institute to fight."
Annie nodded, not really understanding the point of all this fighting over land, "Well I don't want anyone's land! So we don't have to fight in the tournament right?"
"Right Annie," Ezreal laughed as he said her name, "You're such a c ute little girl. You remind me of my little sister."
Annie smiled, "I've never had a big brother,but I guess you'll have to do!"
Ezreal voice trailed off, "I guess so..."
The two continued eating, with Annie only asking a few questions about fighting in the Summoner's Rift. Annie was really excited to be here in the League, but was still nervous of fighting a full fight against another team. After lunch her and Ezreal ran into Tristana who was just coming down the grand foyer steps.
"Tristana!" Annie called out to her.
Noticing the two, the small yordle brushed her dark blue hair out of her face and smiled at Annie, "Annie! Your in the first match today with Teemo! I hope you're ready for a fight. You should head downstairs to the summoner's room. You have to go to the rift."
"How did you know?" Annie asked.
Tristana pointed behind her, showing a giant magical barrier had formed, although at a closer look Annie realized it was a barrier, it was a screen, and there were names on both sides. She looked at the screen and saw her name amongst others: Akali, Twitch, Trundle, and Volibear. On the other side she saw: Sejuani, Ezreal, Janna, Draven, and Brand.
Ezreal laughed, "It appears we'll be fighting once more Annie. Come on, I'll lead you to the room."
Annie didn't know any of those people on the list except Volibear, and she was nervous to fight against that many other people at once, but she ignored those feelings and grabbed Ezreal's hand as he led her down to the summoner's area.
"From what I've been told, after awhile the summoners will be able to summon us from anywhere within the Institute, but they need to get a feel for our life force and life energy before they can use it to pull us into another dimension. I hope you're ready, I'm going to beat you this time."
The two both stood in the summoner's room where the summoners were huddled around the nexus. As they entered the summoners began to chant, and Annie felt a similar sensation as her body fell to the floor and she was pulled from it.
This areas was much brighter than the Abyss. As she looked around she saw she was standing on a raised platform with the other four champions. There was a rat with a bow and three arrows in it, who smelled awful, almost poisonous, a giant troll with a huge club made of ice, a girl who was barely taller than her with two stinger blades in each hand, and Volibear's beautiful white fur, which was hidden behind a thick silver breastplate. Annie walked over to the shopkeeper who gave her another deathcap. Annie felt a surge of power and watched the others pair up and run past the nexus directly in front of them. She saw the rat and Voli run towards the opening in the forest to her right (that would be bot lane, just to clarify), and the ninja and troll run towards the her left. Confused as to who she should follow Annie walked past the nexus and noticed another opening in the base and Ezreal's past talks of strategy popped into her head. The team splits up into the three lanes, two in the top, 2 on the bottom, and 1 in the middle. She nodded her head and began running to her tower.
As she was standing there waiting for an opponent to battle she heard the distant sounds of weapons clashing and battle cries from the other champions. although she couldn't see the other champions through the high brush, she realized something was wrong when the ground beneath her feet started rumbling. Quickly approaching her was a giant boar-like creature with a women flailing a club upon the beast's back. Annie was terrified of this creature and she felt rooted in place-until she realized she was rooted in place. Ice had encased her legs making her unable to move. Annie felt the club connect with her body and the ice encasing her legs broke as she was thrown backwards. Annie could only feel pain and as she laid on the ground she saw the boar creature rumble towards her, with the intent of trampling her to death. Annie was in so much pain she was unable to move, however she managed to roll just enough to the left to avoid being trampled and killed. Annie slowly rolled over and began to stand. Sejuani brought the club down on Annie again, however Annie managed to raise a molten shield in time which deflected the club off of her. Annie was thankful for the break and used it as an opportunity to throw a fireball at one of the legs of Sejuani's beast. The beast fell to the ground throwing Sejuani off.
Sejuani yelled at Annie as she charged with her mace. The first swing missed Annie's body and Annie capitalized on the miss to breathe a wave of fire at Sejuani's body as she overextended herself. The fire washed over Sejuani, burning her alive. Sejuani fell to the ground, badly burned and seriously injured as well as Annie who fell backwards from the pain in her chest. She felt her front and realized that most of her ribs were broken, and now that Sejuani was barely able to move, Annie's adrenaline had begun to slow in flow. The pain set in and Annie felt like she was going to pass out. All she wanted to do is be back at the base and the shop where it was safe. She managed to stand back up and looked down at Sejuani, lying on the ground, twitching in pain.
Annie smiled as she blasted Sejuani in the face with a fireball, blasting her head against the ground, smashing her skull against the ground, "that was really fun."
Annie slowly walked past the dead body when she heard a roar in the brush. She turned to her left and watched in horror as a ball of molten energy flew towards her face.
Annie knew she wouldn't dodge in time, so she dropped Tibbers, "Tibbers!" she cried out in excitement as the bear appeared in front of her absorbing the damage from the fireball.
The ground in front of Annie erupted in a serious heat as a man, who appeared to be made of fire charged through the brush at Tibbers.
Tibbers punched the man of fire back but before the battle could continue, Annie heard a bloodcurdling yell from the brush Brand had run through, "Brand! Come back here. Trundle wants to crush you."
A troll, who Annie immediately recognized as Trundle from stories her mom had read to her about him, crashed into the clearing and bashed Brand across the ground. Brand smashed head over heels across the ground. Brand was slightly slow getting up and Trundle rushed across the clearing and smashed the club down on Brand's body. He smashed again and again until the ground was indented around Brand's body. Annie and Tibbers watched silently at Trundle's brute force.
Trundle turned and slowly strided over to Annie, "Trundle sees that you were able to beat Sejuani, which means you must be a tough warrior. Trundle wants you to keep pushing towards their base, I will meet you there, Trundle needs to help little Akali with Draven."
Annie nodded, and she and Tibbers turned and slowly headed to the enemy base, crushing wave after wave of minions beneath themselves as they moved forward. Annie sat upon Tibbers back nursing her ribs and throwing the occasional fireball at a minion who came too close to Tibbers.
Befor long the duo had reached the base. She saw Trundle and Akali also approaching from her left, and she saw Volibear and his partner pushing Ezreal back. Annie turned her head and continued moving forward, but a roar from Voli turned her head back towards Volibear. She saw in horror as a blast of energy from Ezreal rocketed at her. Annie realized she couldn't dodge in time and closed her eyes as the blast collided with her body, throwing her off Tibbers. Tibbers immediately became a teddy bear and everything went black for Annie.
Annie opened her eyes and looked around. She realized she was back in the summoners room. She looked around wildly, "What happened? Where is everyone?"
One of the summoners turned to her, "You died in the other realm. Volibear destroyed the nexus shortly after your death, transporting you back to our dimension. congratulations on your victory" (A/N: This is the change I made. Rather than respawning as it works in the game, its a single death removes that champion from the fight)
Annie nodded her head silently and left the summoner's room. Annie walked up the steps and headed to the dining area, where she got her favorite, grilled cheese, again and walked over to Volibear's table again. When she arrived, she noticed Sejuani was also sitting there, and caught part of their conversation
"-but don't you see what's happening Volibear. There is an underlying plot by the Demacians and Noxians, why do you think Demacia is trying to get Ashe and the Freljord on their side. There is some sort of hidden agenda that no one knows about, and I'm certain it is related to this Institute. I feel a betrayal within the league forming."
"A betrayal?" Volibear scoffed roughly, "The Demacians are stretched further than the Noxians, and despite this 'temporary peace' we are all basking in, the Noxians and Demacians fight in small skirmishes across the land. Demacia is allying with us because they need resources. You over think these things Sejuani, it is simply a matter of weapons and soldiers that Demacia requires. If the Demacians won the tournament, I'm certain they'd attempt to gain territory in the Freljord that is owned by Noxians."
"Volibear you are a great leader, but not a very smart critical thinker. Demacia has held out this long, what they need is to take out some high ranking Noxian officials. Swain, Darius, and Katarina all battle within the league. The Noxian's highest ranking commander, their leader, and head assassin. If these three were out of the picture, the Noxian's would fall in a matter of months."
"While that is true, the same goes for Demacia. Jarvan IV, Lux, and Xin Zhao are also here. Demacia's prince, current king's right hand man, and head covert operative are here. Noxia could very well do the same thing which makes me think that will not happen."
As Annie sat down Sejuani gave her a strange look, "little girl, why are you sitting here? You are not Freljordian royalty."
Annie smiled, "But me and Volibear are friends! He met Tibbers too, do you wanna meet Tibbers?"
"Yes little one, however today Sejuani and I must talk politics and I'd rather not involve you in this conversation," Volibear rumbled, his voice low.
Annie's smiled faded, "Okay if you say so."
Annie turned and as she walked away she heard Volibear tell Sejuani something that involved her name. Annie wandered around the dinig hall, unsure of where to sit until a familiar blonde haired boy walked in.
"Ezreal!" Annie called, dashing over to him, "can I sit with you!"
Ezreal shrugged, "Yea sure. I'm sitting over there with those guys," he replied, pointing to a full table minus three seats.
Annie sat down at the table, and she introduced herself to the people at the table and they did in turn. It was an interesting group, there was a giant armored man with an anchor in his hand named Nautilus, a female with blazing red hair named Miss Fortune, a rugged man with a rifle of his own named Graves, and a woman with a strange green aura around her, and a traditional white kimono named Karma. By the time general introductions had finished, Ezreal sat down next to Annie.
"I see you've met everyone. I know all of these guys from my various expeditions. It's ironic that they are also champions. Anyway, what brings you to our table, don't you usually sit with the Freljordian royalty?"
As he finished his question, there was a scoff from a few members at the table, Freljord wasn't a popular faction at the table, "Well, they didn't want me to sit there today."
"Ha, are you in an alliance with them, cause if you aren't they don't deal with you," Graves scoffed sarcastically, "the Freljordians are in dire need of powerful allies and have been kissing the ass of Demacia lately."
Miss Fortune shrugged, "I'm interested to see how Annie will factor into all this. There are a lot of people who are noticing your power. Sejuani is a rather difficult opponent, and you managed to stop Brand's charge in the match today, and you embarrassed our poor Ezreal in your very first match. That's definitely going to turn heads, I'm surprised the Freljords aren't trying to get you to side with them."
"My mom and dad are from Noxia," Annie said quietly.
"Interesting," Nautilus stated, "I wonder if Swain knows that? I'm surprised he hasn't tried to talk to you. If he talks to you, be careful, he's the kind of man who can convince you to pay him to take your shoes and hat."
Annie didn't know what to think, first she heard Volibear talking about a possible betrayal from Demacia or Noxia, and then this from these champions. She was wondering where she fit into all this, and why everyone was so interested in her. She was just a little girl, why was she a player in this game? Her thoughts wandered throughout the rest of the meal, and she barely paid attention as the group at the table continued to discuss various topics.
As Annie left the table, Ezreal turned to her, "Hey Annie, where are your parents?"
Annie tilted her head slightly and looked at Ezreal, "I don't know. They sent me here, but haven't talked to me since."
Ezreal nodded, "What's you're last name?"
"Hastur."
Ezreal nodded and without another word turned and walked out of the dining hall leaving Annie alone.
Chapter 6: The Freljord
Lux slowly limped, supported partially by Ashe. Blood was slowly dripping from a knife wound in her shoulder, and blood dripped down onto the ground creating a trail behind them. Ashe had slung her bow over her shoulder and pulled a knife from her hand, ripping a piece of her cloak off to wrap a tourniquet around it. The two looked at each other and smiled lightly, it had been a hell of a battle.
Ashe turned to Lux, "So, do you know Katarina? Back there it seemed like you had been known each other rather well. I ignored her kidding you the first time, but a second time in that last battle is too much to ignore."
Lux remembered back to the fight that had happened only a few hours before, they had been surrounded.
Katarina attacked first, but as she attack with the blade, Lux leaped and butterfly twisted over her blade landing behind her. She dodged another quick swipe and swept Katarina's legs out from underneath her. Lux pointed her wand at Katarina's face and as she was about to blast her, Katarina knocked the wand away, causing Lux to blast one of the other assassin's surrounding them, killing him instantly. Katarina threw a knife which connected with Lux's shoulder throwing her off her feet. As Lux fell she saw Ashe turned and fire a volley of arrows in Katarina's direction. As Lux landed she saw the arrows fly over her as Katarina landed on top of her, an arrow buried deep in her side, causing Katarina's blood to drip onto Lux's stomach. Katarina put her hand on the knife and as she slowly pushed it deeper in, she brought her lips cto Lux's kissing her once more.
"Well. It's kind of a long story..." Lux stated, trailing off.
Ashe continued limping, "we have a few more hours until we arrive at the Freljord. Although I'm worried about the second assassin squad that's supposed to kill us, so keep an ear out for them as well. I'd love to hear this story while we travel though."
Lux nodded, "Well it began a few years ago...As you know, I'm currently dating Xin, strictly for family reasons, I don't have very strong feelings for him. I think he knows this, but the one person who noticed this more than anyone while I was at the league was Katarina. Although she was a Noxian assassin, she struck up a conversation with me one day on my way to the library."
"You're an assassin for the Demacian's aren't you?" a voice calmly stated behind her.
Lux whipped around, "Katarina!" she stated, hands clenching and body taking a defensive stance.
"Relax, if I was trying to kill you, I wouldn't do it here and I wouldn't announce my presence to you, would I?"
"Well," Lux allowed herself to loosen up a little, however did not unclench her fists, "I guess not. But what do you want?"
"Well...I overheard you arguing with Xin the other day about your relationship and the lack of...lust in it. I was intrigued, especially since I have a similar problem being a Couteau."
"How did you...?" Lux snapped, embarassed.
"Relax sweetie. I'm a trained assassin like yourself, you don't think I like to keep tabs on the Demacian generals and royalty that stays here. We both know that they have you do the same thing as myself."
Lux's teeth clenched because she was right, "But still. Why are you delving into our personal affairs."
"Because. I get bored of all the battle tactics they talk about, this stuff is rather juicy and interests me a little more...as a girl."
"Well. Is this what you came here for? Just to rub my love life in my face."
"Quite the contrary," Katarina started, a seductive smile slowly playing on her lips, "I've come to offer you a...proposition."
"What? What kind of proposition?" Lux responded, her eyes narrowing.
"Just a little bit of an affair of our own. You see," Katarina started, swiftly disappearing, then reappearing directly behind Lux, "I've had an eye on your for awhile. Such a young girl. So ripe, so small, so...sexy."
Lux began to quiver a little, but didn't stop her as Katarina ran her fingertips down her back.
"I don't know how much you know about Noxian history, but we're the polar opposite of you. You Demacian's frown on everything. I've heard that sexuality, especially homosexuality, is a punishable offense in your military. Did you know, that in the Noxian military, we encourage sexual activity. It makes better soldiers. I wanted to show you. How. much. better. of. a soldier. you'd. be." Katarina finished, slowly stating the last few words to add emphasis. Her hands slid lower until they reached Lux's thighs.
Lux swiftly turned and took a few steps back, "I-I don't know how I feel about this. You are the enemy! I can't do this."
"Are you trying to convince me? or yourself? I know that Xin isn't satisfying you, and you're such a pretty girl, I could show you so many things. Give yourself to me." Lux stopped moving as Katarina pinned her shoulders to the wall, "neither of us get the fulfillment that we want from our men, so why not put our differences aside and help each other, girl-to-girl."
Katarina slowly moved her head forward and brushed hair out of Lux's face as she kissed her. Lux quickly pulled away and ran down the hall, forgetting what she had to do and not stopping till she reached the Demacian quarters.
Katarina smiled as she went and whispered softly, "I have you now, Luxanna."
"Really just like that?" Ashe asked, "She has quite the way with words."
"Well that wasn't the only time that happened, that was the first time. I still don't know how I feel about everything that happened between us."
Ashe shrugged, "I can't blame you, I've done things with other girls myself that I wouldn't tell Tryndamere, but go on. Tell me more."
"Okay," Lux stated as she remembered back to her brief affair with Katarina.
The first time the two had a sexual encounter occurred three weeks after their initial confrontation. Katarina tried three times to convince Lux to now avail, but the day Katarina spotted Lux in the library, studying ancient glyphs, Katarina knew she'd be able to convince her.
"Preparing for an upcoming battle?" Katarina asked, leaning against the bookshelf behind her.
"Just a few personal glyphs for myself, not really for battle. What does the assassin of Noxia want with me?"
"I think we both know what I want from you," she stated as her eyes bore into the back of Lux's head.
Lux could feel her gaze even though she couldn't see it. She turned and her eyes connected with Katarina's.
Lux swallowed, "I-I don't think this is a very good idea."
"Oh you know how much I love it when you play the innocent girl role," as she said this she bent over, resting her head on Lux's shoulder and draping her arms down her body.
Lux's eyes closed as she felt Katarina's hands explore up and down her body. As her hands slid and grabbed her breast, Lux let out a gasp of air.
"What's the matter?" Katarina asked playfully, "Don't you want this? I can stop if you want, and you can go back to Xin, I'm sure he'll do everything you want him to do."
"W-Wait," Lux stammered nervously, "Why do you keep trying when I keep saying no."
"You've never said no."
Lux stammered incoherently for a few moments, "I've never done anything like this before."
Katarina smiled, grabbed her chin and turned Lux's head kissing her gently at first, but slowly sliding her tongue in her mouth.
Lux pushed her away, "we can't do this here."
Katarina smiled, turned and walked around the table. She bent over the table, exposing her cleavage to Lux, "Well then. Come with me."
She turned and walked a few steps away, "You coming?"
Lux sat there and stared at her for a few moments. She slowly closed her book, stood up and followed her. The walk to Katarina's room was a blur to her. Terrified, Lux took Katarina's hand as Katarina pulled her into her bedroom. Katarina slowly took off her own shirt, and then removed Lux's.
Lux stood there, awkward and scared as Katarina pulled her close. Lux felt Katarina's breasts touch her own, and began to feel a certain heat forming deep inside her chest. Katarina pulled Lux's hair as she quickly slide her tongue down her throat. Lux's eyes closed and she moaned into Katarina's mouth. Katarina pushed Lux onto the bed and quickly unbuttoned her pants. As Lux slid her hand down her pants and into her, Katarina moved her tongue in Lux's mouth. Lux couldn't move, and her legs slowly spread out further and further allowing Katarina to move her hand inside her more. Lux wanted to cry out, but Katarina's tongue kept her from doing so. Lux's hands found Katarina's pants, and she slowly undid her button and slid her hand into Katarina's hand. As her hand slid inside Katarina's pussy, she felt a small shiver run through Kat's 's other hand ran up her body until it found Lux's brests, where she slowly rubbed one then the other, which surprised Lux, but made her feel strangely good.
Katarina pulled her hand out of Lux's pants, and slowly slid them down until they no longer were on her body at all. Katarina pulled her own pants off, and grabbed Lux's legs. She split her legs apart and brought her head between them. At the same time she lowered her hips on to Lux's face. She sloly began moving her tongue around, and slid her fingers back inside her. Lux followed suit, earning a soft moan from Katarina. The two continued like that for an extended period of time, until Lux felt lke she was going to pass out from the pleasure.
Finally after a littl longer Lux felt her legs shake, her body quiver and her back arch from the extreme pleasure and as her eyes closed she felt Katarina's body arch into hers.
Katarina rolled off her, "That was fantastic. Best I've ever had with a girl. Are you sure you've never done this before?"
Lux closed her eyes and curled up with Katarina, "It was my first time ever."
"Then you're as skilled an assassin as you are a lover I'd suppose. You and I are not so different, in more ways than one. In a different life, we might've been partners...In both senses," after growing silent for a second, she added, "have you ever thought about doing mercenary work with me? I like an assassin who is talented, and you have all the qualifications."
Lux closed her eyes and curled up with Katarina, the pleasure she had previously felt too severe too read into Katarina's statement as she swiftly fell asleep, her body intertwined with Katarina's
Ashe nodded, "That explains a lot. Do you think she was trying to get you to convert sides?"
"That was her plan from the start, she wanted me to resent Xin and slowly slip from my Demacian roots and join the Noxians, disguised as mercenary work. Because of that I stopped speaking to her, and for awhile it helped my relationship with Xin."
"What I'm really interested in is, why Xin Zhao? The Zhao family is a mere shadow of what is was during the reign of Jarvan II. Xin is one of the few Zhao's left that serve under Jarven III. Why would Katarina even care about him and you?"
"Well, it's a power move for my family. The Crownguards are looking to learn about the Zhao's secret family techniques that have been a tradition for years. Jarvan seeks to teach Zhao's abilities to more soldiers as a way to turn the tide of war when we reengage in war with the Noxian's. He wants to teach more soldiers his talon strike, which is actually a powerful technique. But its also a secret technique known only by the Zhao family. I don't know their reason for hiding it though."
"Interesting, it appears that everyone is trying to gather as much power as possible. It worries me, what will happen if this peace falls. I wish everyone could unite through peaceful methods. It's wishful thinking at best I suppose."
"I suppose," Lux responded, "Wait! Is that it! Is that your village?"
"Yes it is, great job Lux, we made it, I can't believe we-" Ashe dropped to a knee, "this was quite the adventure but we made it."
"I can't believe it either, we went through a lot to make it here. Now help your village and let's head back to the league. What a stroke of luck though, not being intercepted by the other assassin squad."
Ashe nodded, and the two silently walked into the village with much huzzah and cheer from the various locals.
A/N: So this is basically where we're at right now. There is much development left for Lux's character, and I decided to throw a little background into her relationship with Katarina. After this chapter I'm gonna continue to expand her story. I'm also considering making Lux's and Annie's path cross several times throughout the series. I'm not sure why I want to, but I have a few ideas in my head as to how. Also, I hope its a little more clear where I'm trying to go with Annie's story. If you still dont get it, I'm sure next chapter will really make it quite clear.