Chapter 5

Morgana

"This is Mordekaiser?" Thought Morgana as she looked upon the massive suit of black armor that was before her, mostly in shock.

Though she wasn't born in Noxus nor even traveled to the expanding empire that rivaled Demacia in strength, she knew about the stories about how the empire was born. Of whom was responsible for it.

Long ago, according to the stories, the lands that initially comprised Noxus upon its inception were ruled by an undead revenant by the name of Mordekaiser. Commanding armies of demons, undead, and living slaves, Mordekaiser went about conquering and enslaving people from all the races of Runeterra. His rule was brutal as it was efficient. In time, he would have taken over the entire world, but something happened that caused the tribes that comprised Mordekaiser's living subjects to rebel against him. Somehow, though Morgana had no idea how they were victorious over the undead revenant and banished him to whatever afterlife he believed in. With the revenant gone, the undead that comprised his armies disintegrated or faded away, their link to the living world gone, and the demons were either imprisoned or in hiding, waiting for the revenant's return so they can enact their vengeance on those that imprisoned them or forced them into hiding.

In the aftermath of it all, the tribes would soon combine into one empire. Noxus. And though Noxus marches to the future, uncaring about the past, stories of the Iron Revenant, or at least versions of the story that pertain to the inadvertent creator of Noxus, still linger and are passed down from generation to generation about how Noxus was created. Eventually, they reached the other nations of Runeterra. Some will claim them to be false stories made by Noxus to justify their brutalities, like Ionia and Demacia, others saw them as fairy tales, like Piltover, or just simply didn't care about them.

As for Morgana herself, she had seen much during her long life on Runeterra that others would find impossible or make-believe. Plus, she had seen undead before, in the form of the ruinations that come from the accursed Shadow Isles. So an undead warlord that had previously ruled the people that would form an aggressive empire like Noxus wasn't farfetched in the eyes of the four-winged woman. What she didn't expect was that Mordekaiser was the father of Moxxie and that he was here. In her home. As she was recovering from all this, Moxxie spoke up.

"Dad! What are you doing here!?" Asked Moxxie in shock. He wasn't expecting that his own father would come here to pick him up and not one of his subordinates. Mordekaiser simply laughed at that.

"What father would not attempt to pick their child up after a trip of their own design?" Asked Mordekaiser as he walked closer to Moxxie, who wanted to go and run towards him and hug his leg, but the sudden burst of anger from Morgana stopped him.

"A father that sent him alone to face a village that despises all that they deem unnatural!" Yelled Morgana as her wings burst from her back to reveal them to Mordekaiser in their full glory. "How could you send your own son into that village alone!? What father would do such a thing?"

"A father that wishes to teach him a lesson." Said Mordekaiser simply as he found great amusement from this display of power coming from the winged woman, even more so when she was angrier at what he just said. If she attacked, it would be of great excitement and enjoyment for the Iron Revenant. It has been so long since he had faced anyone of true power. Or any true opponent that is. He longed to have it again. The adrenaline of facing a fierce opponent. The thought of knowing that he was facing a strong and capable warrior that can harm him. The pride of beating a powerful foe and then reducing them to mere servants of him, strengthening his armies and him in the process. If this woman attacked him, then he'll welcome it with savage glee. Unfortunately, Moxxie must have realized what was going to happen soon, and thus went in between the two powerful beings.

"Stop!" Yelled Moxxie as he got between the both of them, causing both of them to stop and look at him. "Please, stop! No fighting, please! I don't want either of you to get hurt!" Upon hearing that, Morgana stopped and looked at the boy.

"This man needs to be punished for what he did to that village and to you." Said Morgana, anger still present in her voice, but calmer now that Moxxie was between her and Mordekaiser as she didn't want to hurt the Imp.

"Maybe, but he's my dad and I don't want him to get hurt. Neither do I want you to get hurt." Said Moxxie, causing Mordekaiser to look at the child. "Can we please let this go and just leave each other alone?" Upon hearing that, Morgana looked at Moxxie incredulously while Mordekaiser just laughed in amusement.

"Your naivety is as amusing as it is foolish, child." Said Mordekaiser, causing Morgana to glare at him. She was about to attack him with her chains when his mace suddenly disappeared, stunning the four-winged woman. "However, given what you had endured and because it is your birthday, I will indulge you, my child. I will not start a fight with this woman. However, I will defend myself if she decides to attack. Thus, I advise you to figure out a way for her to stand down and allow us to leave peacefully, otherwise, a conflict will arise." Gulping as his father told him all that, Moxxie looked at Morgana, still glaring at Mordekaiser in anger, before trying to convince her to stand down and let them go.

"Please, Miss Morgana. I don't want you or my dad to be hurt. Please." Pleaded Moxxie as he looked at her with his large, yellow eyes. Looking at the Imp before her and seeing those adorable eyes, caused Morgana's heart to soften. The innocence in his eyes, along with the clear care towards her and his father, disarmed the woman. Thus, reluctantly, she complied with the Imp's wishes.

"Very well." Said Morgana as she stayed her hand. She then patted Moxxie's white hair fondly before glaring at Mordekaiser, who eyed her interactions with Moxxie with interest. "I will do so this once, but if I ever see your father again, he will know my wrath, no matter how strong he is." Moxxie looked worried at that while Mordekaiser simply laughed.

"You are welcome to try." Said Mordekaiser as Moxxie went over to him and went behind his legs. With his son secured, Mordekaiser opened a portal to Mitna Rachnun. Once it was opened, Mordekaiser gently motioned for Moxxie to enter, which he did after asking him to not pick a fight with Morgana once he left. There was a bright flare in his eyes at that demand but quickly dissipated. He then made a promise to Moxxie that he won't fight with her and that he'll be following close behind him. Seeing the honesty from Mordekaiser, Moxxie soon went through the portal, leaving Morgana and Mordekaiser alone. Once they were, he looked at Morgana and spoke.

"Thank you for your care for Moxxie." Said Mordekaiser, causing Morgana to blink. She did not expect that to come from him. She took a moment to recover from the thanks before responding back.

"I don't need thanks for saving your son." Said Morgana, her hate for Mordekaiser temporarily gone upon hearing him give her thanks for saving his son. "The boy doesn't deserve what he suffered from those villagers. He deserved better. Both from them and his own father." Mordekaiser just scoffed at that, but inside he felt a part of him, a tiny, insignificant part of him, actually agreeing with her. A part that he soon squashed down in disgust.

"The boy needed to learn that this world is a harsh place." Said Mordekaiser as he looked at Morgana. "That was achieved. Though perhaps a bit too effectively. I will admit that." Upon hearing that, Morgana felt some of the anger that she felt towards Mordekaiser rise. How could he not see that he put his son in fatal danger? Or that his actions killed children and newborns? Did he simply not care for anyone at all?

"If that is how you truly view what happened to your son and that village as then perhaps you should consider not having a child in the first place nor be a ruler of anything." Said Morgana as she glared at Mordekaiser, who glared right back. "He's not a soldier or a mindless thrall to you. He's a living being. A living being that can think and feel. And you put him in danger that ended with dozens dead. Some of which were mere children. Children that will now no longer have a future because of your own cruelty towards your son. If you cannot see that, then you shouldn't be a father to that boy. Nor a ruler of anything for a ruler that rules with only an iron fist will soon face rebellion from his own people, no matter how much he wants to protect them." Glaring at Morgana, Mordekaiser considered fighting her and breaking his promise to Moxxie when he remembered how injured Moxxie was and how close he was to tears about them about to fight one another. Remembering those things caused a part of him. A small, almost insignificant part of him, makes him feel a bit of regret. Growling, he began to leave.

"I will take your words under consideration." Said Mordekaiser, feeling disgusted at himself for what he was feeling, before leaving through the portal, leaving Morgana alone as it closed. Once he was gone, Morgana thought about Moxxie and wondered how he was doing. He was still injured and she wasn't sure that he would be properly healed by whoever that Mordekaiser calls healers in whatever realm he and Moxxie call home.

Walking towards her bed, Morgana wondered about Moxxie and if she would ever see him again. That is if Mordekaiser allowed him to do so.

Later

Mordekaiser

Mitna Rachnun

"How is Moxxie?" Asked Mordekaiser as he addressed Keira, who was speaking with her lord alone in his throne room. He had summoned her to speak about Moxxie and how he was faring after his injuries from visiting Runeterra.

"He is recovering well, my lord." Said Keira as she looked at Mordekaiser. "He will fully recover from his injuries. However, if I may be so bold, milord. Perhaps you should visit him. The boy has been through a lot and it wouldn't do to leave him alone with his emotions after what he has been through. He may think that you do not care for him if you do not visit him at least once." Mordekaiser pondered her words, finding them similar to what Morgana had said to him before he left.

Ever since returning to Mitna Rachnun, Mordekaiser had pondered on the words of Morgana and realized, much to his reluctance, that she held a valid point.

His actions could have gotten Moxxie killed, thus ruining his plans for his home dimension. And, much to his disgust, her words about ruling with only an iron fist were sound. The living were, for all intents and purposes, selfish and whiny compared to the dead. They are unruly and undisciplined, requiring constant attention in order to ensure they don't rebel against their leaders. Or, at least, make an effective rebellion.

Looking at Noxus, his inadvertent creation of old, they struggled, if only a little, in balancing the need for the mace and the need for the quill, yet they maintain that balance and thus don't suffer much rebellion, or at least large-scale ones, within their territories.

Thinking on the words of the two women, Mordekaiser eventually realized that they were both sounds and that he needed to make adjustments to his rulership if he wished to rule both the living and the dead. And he'll need to start with his son.

"Very well." Said Mordekaiser as he got up from his throne. "I will talk to Moxxie now." With that, Keira bowed before her lord as he took his leave to see his son. Walking out of his throne room, Mordekaiser went towards the room that contained his son. As he was destinated the son of Mordekaiser, he was given the finest medical professionals and healers that they had available, many of whom were competent healers when they were alive. Thus, Mordekaiser saw no reason to visit Moxxie or heal the Imp himself. Though, given what Morgana and Keira said to him, perhaps that was an error of judgment, especially when he wished to keep his allegiance to him and Mitna Rachnun.

Walking to the room that he gave Moxxie and the healers, Mordekaiser entered. Upon doing so, he saw a healer tending to Moxxie while the others were creating various potions for him or were simply observing him. Upon seeing Mordekaiser, however, most stopped and bowed before him while others couldn't due to the danger of stopping during their mixtures.

"Dad!" Yelled Moxxie as he looked at Mordekaiser approaching him. The Imp had been stripped of his regular clothing and had it replaced with a blue gown. Looking at Moxxie's figure, littered with stitches and bruises, Mordekaiser felt shame filling his body, something that he hated, but accepted on account of his actions. "What are you doing here?"

"To check up on you." Said Mordekaiser as he looked at Moxxie, sitting up from the bed that he was given by his healers. "What father wouldn't do so when his son is injured? Especially when those injuries were caused by his own decisions." Moxxie looked surprised at what Mordekaiser said along with those around him, but Mordekaiser ignored them and looked straight at Moxxie. "I had sent you to that village to let you see the foolishness and ignorance of the Demacian people. However, I miscalculated just how severe the danger you were in. As a result, you nearly died and I nearly lost you."

"What are you saying, dad?" Asked Moxxie as he looked at Mordekaiser, who grumbled a bit before speaking up.

"What I'm conveying is…that I'm sorry." Said Mordekaiser as he looked at Moxxie, who was stunned at Mordekaiser saying he was sorry since, in all his life, he had never seen Mordekaiser apologize for any of his actions. Granted, there weren't a lot of people that he could apologize to that weren't loyal to him, but still. It was a shock to the Imp. "As a result of my mistakes, I will permit you to see that woman again if you so, please. Without supervision. Is that sufficient enough to make up for my mistake?" Stunned to hear all this, Moxxie didn't know what to say. Eventually, he swallowed a bit before speaking up.

"T-thank you, dad." Said Moxxie with a weak smile. "I-is it okay if I visit her tomorrow? I think she's rather lonely and needs a friend." Mordekaiser looked at Moxxie for a bit before nodding.

"I'll arrange a portal that will take you to where we last saw her. And I'll provide an escort this time." Said Mordekaiser before taking off, leaving Moxxie alone with his healers, all of whom were stunned at what they had just witnessed. Eventually, they all went back to work on tending to Moxxie, who, in the meantime, was stunned at what his father had just did.

"Did…did he just apologize for something?" Thought Moxxie as he looked at the door that Mordekaiser took as he left, wondering what was going on with his father.