I will admit, I wasn't expecting this much enthusiasm for this story! But I'm glad you like it and I'm glad that a lot of you want to join! This is the last bit of the Leona arc and I'll be moving onto another champion after this one. Here's the two getting used to each other, Cira learning how to fight...and even getting Summoned to the Rift.
Chapter 2
Recovery had been relatively quick, Cira had chalked it up to being a Champion…they tended to take a lot of damage and heal rapidly…plus all the sunlight she was going to get now.
Cira leaned back in the pool chair, closing her eyes as she reveled in the warmth of the summer sun radiating on her skin and soothing the dull ache in the scars that had been left over from her surgery, scars that still marred her slightly tanned frame. Particularly over her back and, even though they were hidden by the hologram projector installed by the surgeons, on her face. She was going to be wearing long sleeves for a long, long time…
She was nearly asleep when something cold splashed upon her. She shot up, gasping as one of her cousins giggled from the azure water of the swimming pool.
"Oh, so that's the way you want to play?" Cira growled playfully, grabbing a nearby squirt gun and having at it.
"GET 'ER!" her cousin squealed, revealing that some of Cira's other cousins had surrounded her with water balloons and just as powerful squirt guns.
A surge of wild, blazingly hot energy roared through her body and Cira dove out of the way, rolling to her feet and scooping up a discarded boogie-board, using it to block the barrage of water, balloons and squirt gun fire. Cira's eyes flashed gold and she gave a yell of triumph as what appeared to be a shadow dropped down over her form, the top edge of the bubble turning a brilliant white-gold for a few brief moments…before exploding outwards and sending her cousins shrieking for cover as a warm blast of heat surged over the area.
Cira's knees buckled and she hit the ground, groaning slightly as a hand laid itself on her shoulder. The young woman looked up to see her mother's slightly worried face above her. Cira shook her head to clear it and Gwen helped her daughter to her feet.
"Let's go inside," Gwen suggested as Cira weakly nodded, using her mother to support her trembling form.
"What was that?" one of her cousins asked, trotting up to his aunt and oldest cousin…still dripping wet.
"That was totally wicked!" another squealed.
"Can you teach me how to do that?" yet another pleaded.
"Why don't you all go and play?" Gwen suggested, "Let Ci get some rest, ok?"
The children all groaned in disappointment, but did as asked while Cira sat down, her head in her hands as she tried to fight a headache, her form sputtering and revealing silvery armor before reverting to tanned skin.
"Let me guess…one of those powers you told me she had?" Gwen asked, handing her daughter an ice-pack that Cira's grandmother had just made.
Cira put the pack on her head, wincing internally at the slight hissing sound it made as it contacted her burning skin, before nodding slightly.
"Shield for a few seconds before dealing damage as it explodes," Cira muttered before flicking her head, "Shouldn't have done that…"
"No, you probably shouldn't have," Gwen admitted just for Cira to shake her head.
"Wasn't talking to you, Mama," the young woman started.
A few seconds later, a soft, warm voice answered.
"I had nothing to do with that," Leona replied, "That was all you, Cira. Your body sensed a fight…you tapped into our abilities. Congratulations, you're learning,"
Cira blew a slightly reddish hair away from her face in annoyance. Ever since she and Leona bonded, her blonde hair had taken on a reddish tinge, making it look actually red in certain lights. She'd gotten thinner, still stocky, but thinner than she had been…instead of 'insulation' as she had called it once, most of her body mass was muscle, most of it due to Leona's insistence that Cira get off her rear and practice instead of reading or writing all the time. And when Cira refused…Leona decided to take matters into her own hands.
AKA, the Radiant Dawn had taken control of Cira's body and walked out the door into the back yard…much to Gwen's amusement. Gwen had started to take a liking to Leona, jokingly telling Cira once that she'd be glad to have Leona as part of the family…since she made Cira get off her computer or get her nose out of her books and actually do some of the things she'd read about.
Leona thought it was funny…Cira, not so much.
"That just means I'm one step closer to fighting," Cira shuddered, "Leona, I don't want to fight…I'm scared,"
"Don't be afraid, Cira," Leona reassured her, "I will protect you the best I can. If you'd like, the first few times I'll fight so that you can get a feel for it,"
"I'd like that very much so," Cira nodded, breathing a sigh of relief…
"Now, let's go practice," Leona chuckled, "You've relaxed long enough,"
"Leona….!" Cira whined, grabbing the chair and steeling her body as Gwen started grinning.
"Do we have to do a repeat of the last time you refused to move?" Leona deadpanned.
"Aha, I've been working on blocking you," Cira snapped, "I…"
She choked off and Gwen gave a soft laugh as her daughter's eyes flared sun-bright gold and she smiled.
"What was that about blocking me?" Leona asked with a grin while Gwen started laughing.
"I said I was working on it…" Cira grumbled.
"We'll be back in a little while," Leona promised as Gwen nodded.
"Be careful you two," she started as the Radiant Dawn started out of the house.
"Aren't we always?" Leona beamed as she shut the door behind her.
"Are we done yet?" Cira huffed, bent over double as sweat dripped down her nose.
"Your abilities are spotty at best…" Leona hummed, "We need to get them so that as soon as you think of them, they will work,"
"I can't even get them to come when I want them to!" Cira whined.
"Precisely," Leona agreed, "Hmm…do me a favor,"
"What?"
"Hold out your left arm, bend it at a 90 degree angle and clench that fist for me, please?"
Cira did as told…and nothing happened.
"Ah…now I see," Leona continued, "We need to talk to Andrew…you can't summon your shield and by extension, I'm guessing you won't be able to summon your sword either,"
"You think that might be why I can't do the abilities right?" Cira asked.
"Possibly. You still have Andrew's number, correct?"
"Yeah…back at the house,"
"Let's go back and give him a call…you need to get used to fighting with shield and sword as soon as possible,"
Andrew pulled up in front of the two story white house just to see an unamused Champion sitting on the porch, looking right at him. He couldn't tell who was in control, Leona or Cira as the girl had covered her eyes with a pair of sunglasses.
"Where are my sword and shield?" she asked.
Andrew gave a sigh and rubbed the back of his head.
"Back in Valoran," he started slowly, flinching slightly as the new Chosen of the Sun stood up abruptly, stalking forwards with a measured grace that reminded Andrew of the lions at the zoo.
"Why are they there?"
Ah, now that was Leona.
"Because I didn't think she'd be showing abilities until much later, Leona," he replied as the Radiant Dawn crossed her arms.
"Well, I've started showing them," Cira deadpanned, "Can you get them here as soon as possible?"
"They'll be here by the end of the day," Andrew reassured the young woman, "We've got a very fast delivery person,"
Cira cocked her head before stiffening and giving a short laugh.
"Give Kennen my regards," Leona replied, "Better yet, I'll tell him when I see him,"
Andrew gave a nod and started to leave. Leona watched him go, letting Cira take back control.
"He's hiding something," the Radiant Dawn started, "I don't know what it is…but it's there,"
"You think he might be dangerous?"
"I don't know," Leona repeated, "But if he hurts my family or yours…"
"We'll take care of it," Cira promised, "No one touches our families,"
Cira was curled up on the couch, reading, when there was a loud clamor from her dogs and a rapid-fire knocking on the door.
"I got it," she called, getting off the couch and padding towards the door and opening it just to see a flicker of violet and bright blue as a small blur dashed away.
Her dogs started barking like mad…only for a harsh zapping sound to tear through the air and her dogs to give slightly scared whimpers as the smell of ozone filtered through the air.
"Kennen…no hurting my dogs," Cira muttered as she walked out of the house and knelt down next to one of the white dogs, soothingly rubbing his ears as the flicker of violet dashed across her vision, only slightly pausing as it lay something on the porch.
Cira gave a faint smile as the purple-clad figure waved enthusiastically before dashing off into the night. The girl's eyes flashed gold and Leona closed her eyes gratefully as she knelt on the porch, picking up the heavy package and holding it close to her heart.
"Thank you, Kennen, I will see you on the Fields of Justice soon enough," she murmured.
She began to unwrap the package there on the porch, revealing a long, sharp, golden and red blade with a rayed cross guard…and a large, scarlet and gold shield with a many rayed sun adorning the top.
"I feel whole again," Leona smiled, picking up her shield and sword and experimentally swinging the blade through the air…her smile brightening as she heard the high, clear song of the blade as it cut through the air.
She looked up at the field of stars and the full moon…only to close her eyes in sorrow.
"Everything is different," she whispered, drawing her knees up to her chest, "This isn't Mount Targon…this isn't Valoran,"
She missed her friends…missed Pantheon, her parents, the teachers in the Solari village…even her little sister. But she couldn't go back…
Not until Cira was trained and ready to fight as the Chosen of the Sun.
Weeks passed and Cira's skills continued to grow under Leona's guidance and with encouragement from both her family and her boyfriend. Her boyfriend had even taken up a combat class so he'd be able to spar with her.
Cira went down hard into the grass as Arthur pointed the tip of his blade at her nose.
"Dead," he smiled…
Just for Cira to wallop him with Leona's shield and flip him over on his back, the point of the Zenith Blade pricking the back of his neck.
"You were saying?" she grinned.
"Alright, uncle, uncle!" he groaned as Cira lifted her blade and offered her hand…only for him to pull her down next to him and kiss her on the nose.
Cira blinked hazily and gave a smile.
"What were we doing again?" she asked.
"He's just as bad as Pantheon," Leona sighed, "He's just as good as him too…"
"Saying he's a good fighter then?" Cira muttered.
"I pinned him constantly when it came to a brawl," Leona deadpanned, "Pantheon was taller, but I had more weight to me…his fault with all his constant baking…"
Cira gave a laugh and kissed Arthur back…right as a shadow passed over them both.
"And our most favorite person in both worlds," Leona grumbled.
"Leona…" Cira hissed quietly before looking up at Andrew, "Um, hi?"
"I see you've been practicing," Andrew stated, looking at Arthur, who fixed him with a warning glare, "I just came to give you a heads up,"
"About what?" Cira asked.
"Your first match will be starting up soon," he told her.
"…What?"
Arthur stood between Cira and Andrew.
"You can't make her fight," he told her, "She's…"
"She's perfectly ready," Andrew countered, "Leona's been down from the servers long enough…besides, Cira, you signed up for this when you accepted Leona,"
"You don't have to do this," Arthur protested.
"…I…I don't think I have a choice," Cira whispered...a slight metallic note entering her voice.
Arthur whirled around just to see silvery armor beginning to spread over his girlfriend's form, as her short reddish blonde hair turned long silvery white and a golden visor snapped down over her eyes.
"Ci…" Arthur started, reaching out to touch her…only for her to blink out of existence all together.
He whirled around to take it out on Andrew…only to see that he'd disappeared as well.
The world had burst into brilliant particles of sunlight, obscuring Arthur from view…and then they disappeared and Cira found herself in a dark room.
"Wh-What's going on?" she stammered, looking down at herself…and seeing her hands covered with golden gauntlets and scarlet cloth, "L-Leona?"
The Radiant Dawn was silent for a few moments before a surge of pure joy rose in her chest.
"We are home!" she cheered, "I'm home!"
"They said you would be gone for a while," a low male voice started, making Cira whirl around to face a tall man in Spartan-like armor with spear and shield, "I was not expecting you to be gone that long, Leona,"
"I…I…" Cira stammered, backing up until she hit a wall, "You…you're Pantheon…"
The calm amber gaze underneath the helmet turned understanding as his shoulders slumped slightly.
"You are Leona's chosen," he stated as Cira's eyes flickered, turning from blued-grey to a bright shade of gold.
"I'm still here, Pantheon," Leona told him, making the Artisan of War smile within the shadows of his helmet, "And it's good to be home. Are we fighting today?"
"We happen to be on the same team, my dear lady," he replied, "You are going to fight alongside me in the top lane,"
"Who are the others?"
Pantheon thought for a brief moment.
"I believe it's you, me, Annie, Braum and Ashe," he told her, "Against Garen, Kayle, Ryze, Caitlyn and Taric,"
"Holy Fire and giant swords," Leona chuckled, "Should be fun,"
"Always is," Pantheon replied, "Now, if you are ready?"
Leona nodded and turned her thoughts inward to the panicking young woman sharing her form.
"Don't worry, Cira…just watch me and learn. I told you…I would do the first few matches for you,"
"…That doesn't reassure me much," Cira's scared voice whispered.
"I will protect you," Leona reassured her, "They'll have to go through me,"
"I'm you, so that really doesn't reassure me,"
"You worry too much, Cira…we'll be fine,"
True to her word, Leona didn't let anything bad happen to them both. They were in the hands of a good Summoner, as was Pantheon. Caitlyn manage to get off her Ace in the Hole on them, but their Summoner had given them as much armor as possible, rendering the damage minimal.
"Having fun?" Leona asked as Cira stood on the Summoner Platform and her world exploded into light…right as she reappeared in the lawn exactly where she had stood before being summoned.
"…It was fun," Cira admitted, "I might have to try it next time,"
"And that you will," Andrew started, making Cira jump sky-high and whirl around, sword and shield in ready position before relaxing, "But I have a job for you…it's not fighting, it's teaching,"
He handed Cira a picture and gave a grim nod.
"Your new student and fellow Champion," he explained as Cira looked up at him in confusion, "You'll meet them in Valoran once we get them trained a little,"
"You said them," Cira protested, "I only see one in the picture,"
"Well, Cira," Andrew stated, "That's because the Champion that picked them was a duo,"
He pointed at the picture and gave a weary smile.
"Meet Kindred,"
Thank you for reading the Leona part of this story...I will get into actual battles on the Rift, just not yet. I want to introduce the Characters and their champions first before getting into actual battles. Next we get to meet Kindred and their chosen...
For you people wanting Chosens, here are my requirements:
What Champion
Character's name ( 1st and last)
Age
Family?
Physical Description
Personality
Why were they picked by the Champion?
How did they become the Champion(why did the Champion choose them and what were the circumstances that made the Champion choose to bond with the character? *doesn't have to be tragic accident, but I still want to know why they're the new Champion*)
You will have one month to get me a description of your Chosen before the Champion goes back into the pool. You can have multiple Chosens (my requirement is that they are related/know each other) Limit is 3. I CAN decide whether or not I will use your Chosen, I'm pulling the 'My story, my rules' card. If I see that someone has a very good reason for that Champion, then I will show preference for them mainly because it's easier for me to write.
Champions already taken:
Leona: me
Kindred: The Kitsune Girl Ahri
Gragas: RoboticFreeze
Diana: MMiladinova
Jinx: minifox1
Kayle: sop56
Fiora: Oceanbourne
Pantheon: boyfriend
Viktor: ckies
Shen: HLZB
Tahm Kench: Tourvelix
Wukong: Unbiased Friend
Anyway, hope you liked it. If you did, please let me know!
Qui vállë tóquetë, ván tecë (If no review comes from y'all; no story comes from me)
Máriessë ar mára tecië
Farewell and fair writing
Elhini Prime signing off.