Desperate Times

a League of Legends fanfic

Chapter 9: A Brief Pause

Three Months ago

Jay gazed around himself in wonder. "This place is increadible! I feel such peace in the land itself!"

Gangplank chuckled from ahead of him. "Aye, Ionia be a truely nice place ta weigh anchor. Even if'n they don' appreciate the subtleties o' tha work I do."

"You mean piracy and murder Captain?" Their guide asked, "No, we do not appreciate such behavior on principle. And you will do well to remember that while you are here."

The pirate held his hands up in a surrendering gesture. "Aye, Aye, I know."

The party continued up the hill through the Ionian village, drawing the gaze of almost everyone that they passed. Many of the people whispered to each other, pointing to the group, and Jay had the strangest feeling, himself in particular.

Eventually their path took them to a small but resplendent house at the back of the village, it's elegant flowing architecture bringing a smile to Jay's face. "I take it this is the place?" He asked, turning to his companions.

"Indeed my old friend." A soft voice sounded from behind him, "Captain Gangplank, I received your letter, although I am still surprised that you were being honest with me."

Jay turned, looking for the person who spoke, what his eyes found was most certainly not what he had been expecting. The woman was most certainly not human, however she was possessed of a beauty and grace that caught the words he had prepared in his throat. She stood tall on a pair of hooves, her soft purple skin seeming to glow with an inner light. A single horn rose gracefully from the crown of her head, and a long braid of white hair fell down her back, almost reaching the ground.

The woman smiled a soft smile, "Is something the matter young Lightshield?"

Jay shook his head, blushing a little upon realizing that his mouth had been hanging open. "Li-Lightshield?" He asked, the whole situation feeling strange.

"Your name." She said, "Prince Jarvan Lightshield the Fourth. Crown Prince of Demacia. And an old friend." The woman bowed low, the rest of his companions also bowing.

Jay stood, dumbfounded by this turn of events. "I-I'm a prince?" He looked around at his companions, "Captain, why didn't you tell me?"

Gangplank scratched the back of his head, a small grin on his face. "Would ye have believed me if'n I told ye? Look Jay lad, yer royalty. It's a fact, but ye are also a good man, ye deserved a vacation after ever'thin ye've been through."

Jay gazed around at his companions, the weight of what they were telling him sinking in slowly. At long last, he closed his eyes, inhaled deeply, and turned a strong gaze towards Soraka. "Tell me everything. Please."

Two Months ago

Katarina walked up the steps, stopping at the door. "Come on 'Gerad'. You'll be staying here until your next mission." She called down the way to the man standing in the road, using his false name in case there was anyone listening in.

Garen made his way up the steps, looking up at the massive complex of buildings in front. "This place looks like a military installation, not your house." He says as he comes up to stand beside her.

The red haired assassin snorted in laughter, turning and kicking the door open. "CASS!" She shouted, "We have company!"

Garen blinked in surprise. The sudden shift in Katarina's attitude catching him completely off guard. Then he felt himself stiffen in apprehension, a soft shuffling sound reaching his ears. Cassiopia Du Couteau slithered her way down the grand staircase that rose up from the foyer, her green hair falling down across her slender shoulders, a simple loose fitting blouse covering her chest, and a massive snake tail where her legs should be.

"Kat!" She smiled, "Welcome home sister, I trust your mission was a success? Did you kill a lot of Demacian filth? Come on Red, spill the story!" Her gaze shifted to the man accompanying Katarina, "Ooh," She almost purred, a pair of wickedly sharp fangs just showing as she flashed a sultry smile, "Who's this handsome rogue?"

Katarina ushered her guest in through the door, closing it behind them with a thunk. "Cassy, you remember Garen Crownguard right?" She asked with a grin, once the locks were set in place and she was sure no one would be listening in. "I believe you two have met at the Institute once or twice."

"WHAT?!" The serpentine woman's demeanor changed almost instantly, her gaze turning murderous, and her fangs seeming to lengthen. Lunging towards Garen, she grabbed him by the throat, her strength catching the Demacian off guard. "What is this Demacian shit doing in our house?" She hissed, fury and hatred burning in her gaze.

The snake woman suddenly blinked, a very sharp knife positioned just under her throat. "Maybe, beautiful Sister mine, if you put him down, I'll tell you." Katarina purred, her smile warm, but her eyes glinting dangerously. "For the moment, just know that he's here with General Swain's personal approval and my invitation."

Cassiopia grumbled, but after several moments she sighed and released Garen, sliding backwards away from the large Demacian. "I don't like this Red."

Garen coughed, rubbing his throat gently, "Believe me," He said, his voice rough, "The feeling is mutual."

The two glared at each other, the Noxian noblewoman's fangs lengthening again, and a hiss sliding past her lips. Finally, Katarina stepped between them, rolling her eyes, "Enough! You both are acting like children!"

Several tense seconds passed, before Cassiopia finally hissed and turned back to the stairs, "Fine, have your playtime with your new toy Kat. But I'll be watching him." She said as she slithered back the way she had come.

Garen didn't allow himself to relax until he was sure the woman was gone. When at last his shoulders did slump down, he caught the look of amusement on his other host's face. "What?" He asked.

Katarina simply shook her head, still smiling, and turned to one of the halls, beckoning for the Demacian to follow. As they walked, it began to become very clear that the structure was even larger than Garen had first believed. After what seemed like hours, they arrived at a small door, "Here," Katarina said, "This is your room for now. We'll get you into someplace a little more suited to a General once my house staff get back, but for the moment, this tiny thing should do you well enough. Breakfast is going to be at sunrise tomorrow, so get some rest. We have a lot to do." With that, she turned and left, leaving Garen to investigate his new accommodations alone.

As he entered the room, he couldn't help but laugh. "If this is what she calls 'tiny', I can't wait to see how ridiculous the room she's planning to move me to is." The room was easily twice the size of his own bedroom back in Demacia. A massive bed sat in the middle of the far wall, while a large, round table dominated the center of the space. There was also, surprisingly, a large window, looking out onto a rather beautiful courtyard garden.

Garen closed and locked the door behind him, not willing to trust any of the people in the complex besides possibly Katarina. He then made his way toward another small door in the wall, opening it, he found a large bathroom. Turning back to the main room, he smiled, "So, maybe I really can finally relax, just for one night."

"I am against it!" Darius snarled, pacing back and forth through the office.

"You said that Bro. Probably a dozen times by now." The man sitting in one of the chairs chuckled, "Just admit it, you're just jealous cause little Katarina's payed more attention to him than she's ever given y-" His words were cut short by the other man's massive axe swinging down viciously. However when the strike landed, the speaker had already rolled smoothly back, out of his chair and into another one.

"If you ever say something like that again Draven, brother or no, I'll-"

"Enough. Both of you." Swain stalked in, his face, as always, unreadable. "Draven, you will refrain from antagonizing the good general for now, he is under a bit of pressure right now." The executioner rolled his eyes, but nodded anyways. "And General Darius, I expect you to not waste your talents and expertise trying to kill everyone who mildly annoys you in the next few weeks. My military would be crippled, and I cannot have that now."

Darius snarled again, before ripping his axe out of the floor and turning to leave. Once he was gone, Draven chuckled, lounging back in his seat. "So, Crownguard is here eh?"

Swain turned his attention to the window looking out over the sprawling cityscape that made up his domain. "Yes. He may even prove to be useful to me. I suppose only time will tell." With his back to the famous executioner, Swain allowed himself a brief moment to smile widely. "Oh Le'Blanc... you were so eager to eliminate the boy. You never thought that it would give me the perfect weapon did you?"

Present Day

The Zaunite bar was small, it was dirty, and most importantly, it was nearly empty. The perfect place for people to meet less savory people in private. Which is the only reason I'd ever be caught dead in this place. The young woman thought to herself, scowling and once again trying not to throw up from the smell of chemical waste mixing with whatever it was that passed for 'alcohol' in this place. Where the hell is that miserable bastard?

A few moments later, the door swung open, turning to look over her shoulder, the woman rolled her eyes and swore. "I should have known that you'd somehow be involved in this. And by the way, 'Zerhid'? Really? That's the best name you could come up with?"

The tall man at the door flashed a charming smile, and slid a finger along the rim of his hat in greeting. "It keeps certain people off my back while I do my business." He said, "Although I'll be honest, when I heard that you of all people were tearing the city apart looking for me. Well, let's just say I was surprised." He chuckled warmly, sitting down at the bar and ordering a drink.

"Oh spare me swindler." The woman said, rolling her eyes. "Can you help me or not?"

"Oh of course my dear." He smiled again, setting a few coins down on the bar and sipping his drink happily. "But, you know it's gonna cost yo-"

The woman grabbed him by his coat, hauled him around, slamming him into the wall. "You really want to try and bargain with me now Fate?" She snarled, her eyes flashing dangerously, "Are you trying to piss me off intentionally? Or have you just forgotten the last time I kicked your ass? Here's my offer, you get me what I need, and I won't vaporize you. Hell, as a bonus, I won't tell Him where your favorite watering hole is."

The man's smile was gone, replaced by a venomous glare. "You got some nerve, threatening me in my own territory."

"Get over it. I'm not in the mood for your usual brand of bullshit today."

The two glared at each other for several seconds. Finally, the man sighed, "You've changed Crownguard."

Letting him go, Lux sat back down at the bar. "You're the so called 'info broker', you already know why I'm so angry." She sighed as well, signalling the bartender, who had reacted to her outburst and threats as if they were nothing more than a bug buzzing in his ear, for a drink.

"Yes I do." He said, sitting back down at his spot, and sipping his own drink. "I just didn't expect you of all people to get this way. You always struck me as a 'Happy-go-lucky' type."

"Then that should tell you just how bad the situation is." Her expression remained unchanged.

Several seconds passed in silence. Finally, the man let loose a heavy sigh, "You know I can't help you for free Lux. It's bad business, and sends the wrong kind of message to people. But I will give you a special discount, since we go back a ways. Besides," He stood once more, turning to the door, "I've always liked your brother."

"Doubt he'd ever say the same of you."

"Maybe." As he reached the door, Twisted Fate turned back to the lady, "Give me two days tops. I'll find him, and get you moving towards him." Then, with a final tip of his hat, he stepped through the door and vanished from sight.

"It's not the barrier around the palace that you're going to need to worry about now Galio." Syndra said as she gazed down on Valoran from her floating spire. From there, her eyes watched the shimmer of magic descend upon the countryside. "It seems that the entire Demacian country is beginning to be covered in a defensive shield."

"They are preparing for war." The golem replied quietly, as he continued to inscribe several tiny runes along his fist, his large hands handling the small detail work surprisingly well. "My guess is that Garen has escaped them and made it to Noxus by now. And Jarvan is afraid of what he could do with Noxus backing him."

The woman turned back to her guest, "War eh? Interesting..." Walking lightly back to her throne, she sat down, silently weighing her options. It had been years since a real war had come to the continent. Long enough that few would be ready for it. This may have been the opportunity that she had been waiting for.

Galio watched the woman in suspicion. "What are you plotting witch?" His eyes narrowed accusingly.

"I am plotting to help you, fool. You will need my power to get past that new barrier, and I could stand to have you in my debt. But for now..." She made a simple gesture, causing the large floating castle to turn and begin moving. "It would be wise to go and make some friends while you can."

The room was dim, shadows played across the walls as the cloaked figures within conducted their work. One figure watched the rest, directing the actions of his fellows. "The Mistress wants everything to be ready, no matter what. And we will not fail her!"

As he finished speaking, there was a crash, followed by the sound of splintering wood, as something burst through the boarded up door. The lone figure moved in a rolling dive into the middle of the room and then vanished. Light spilled through the broken door, as several hooded people moved quickly to try and fix it, while the rest all searched the room for their uninvited guest. Each of them carried a wicked looking knife.

"You rats have been busy." A harsh voice sounded from the shadows. "It makes me sick just seeing you all scurry about like cockroaches in my city." A shadow suddenly detached itself from the far wall and hurtled towards a group of hooded men in a blur of motion. There was a flurry of movement, and a gurgled cry from one of the men, and then the shadow vanished once again. By the time another hooded figure made it to the group, all five were dead, killed by their own knives.

The leader of the hooded people glanced about frantically. "You have just made a deadly mistake, intruder!" He called out, "No one challenges the Black Rose and lives!"

As he spoke, the shadows seemed to reach out and grab two more cultists, dragging them screaming backwards until their cries were suddenly cut short. "Really?" the voice spoke again. "Let us test that theory."

A lone figure suddenly dropped down in the middle of the cultists, an explosion of motion. There were several snapping sounds and most of them dropped dead before they even realized that they weren't alone. Another rushed the figure, knife raised to strike, only to be punched with destructive force in the throat. He dropped his knife as he instead reached down to grasp at his throat, as the blade fell, it was snatched from the air by the figure who brought it around in a glistening arc. The unfortunate cultist fell backwards, his head landing several feet away.

The lead cultist watched in horror as his fellows were dispatched one by one, each falling to the deadly intruder. After only a few blood soaked moments, he was alone, surrounded by the dead. As he began backing towards the door, a grip like steel closed around his hand. He screamed in pain and horror as he felt almost every bone in the appendage snap.

"Now," Said Shauna Vayne, "Let's have a nice chat about who you answer to."