League of Legends: The Changing of Fate
Chapter One
Welcome to the realm of Runeterra.
It is a world filled with magic and technology. A world of many different lands, different species… and conflicts.
All of the lands of this world hold importance and are filled with amazing stories and beings. But inevitably, the most determined of them turn their attention to a place where myth and religion are intrinsically linked.
Mount Targon.
It was one of the most mysterious places in all of Runeterra, the most isolated, as well as the tallest. Its summit seemed to touch the heavens themselves, almost as if the Gods themselves had pulled the land upward.
It was not only one of the most mysterious lands but also one of the most important. For it was also the home of the Chosen; mortal beings that were chosen to act as the representatives of the Aspects.
Targon was home of the Rakkor: a people hardened by both mountain life and preparation for what they consider to be the last great war against the eternal darkness. For they worshipped the Sun, giving thanks to its blessed light with every breath they take.
They also stood allied to the Solari priesthood, who foretold that should the light fade, their world would end. To that end, all forms of darkness were viewed as dangerous and must be fought. Even the night itself was deemed their enemy, and only constant vigilance could keep it and its Mistress the Moon at bay.
The Solari were opposed by the Lunari, a group of supposed Heretics who worshipped the Moon, but were almost destroyed because of it. As a result, they were forced into hiding, living in exile beyond their enemy's reach, waiting for the day when they could return.
It is from these factions that two young ladies were emerge to prominence. Two women, in whom the hands of Fate would soon come to try and guide them to a greater destiny.
Leona: Daught of Sunforgers Iasm and Melia.
Diana: Ward of the Rakkor.
Now, their story is well known. Leona would make contact with Diana to learn how to become a better orator. She would choose to become Diana's friend; a friendship that, despite a few bumps along the way, would slowly grow to become more. Diana would continue her research and learn of the Lunari faith, and Leona would beg her not to pursue it, for fear of what the Elders would do to her. Diana would try to put it behind her... and fail.
And then, the fateful night came. The night that would change everything for them both.
For it would this night that Diana would choose to brave the seemingly insurmountable climb to the peak of Mount Targon. And Leona, who wanted to protect her love from the Elders, followed her up.
And on the peak of Mount Targon, before the Golden Gate to the Heavens, the two would become the Avatars of the Sun and the Moon.
Now, it is at this point that the story becomes somewhat tragic. Leona would reaffirm her loyalty to the Solari, and Diana would pledge her allegiance to the Lunari. The two would become unwilling enemies through their choices, and the choices of others, perpetuating the cycle of violence that had gripped Targon for centuries
But… what if...
What if something different happened at that peak? What if one of them had made a different choice? What if that one choice would influence not only the people of Targon but all of Runeterra?
Well, to see how events would unfold from such a small difference, we must return to that moment where these two star-crossed lovers left mortality behind.
We must return to that peak… to see the possible beginning of Runeterra's salvation…
LOL
To any of the residents that were watching the night sky, it looked like the peak of Mount Targon was having a celebration.
Golden light bathed the skies, giving off a glorious aurora. It brightened the night sky, seemingly chasing off the darkness, if only for a moment. A beam of light was touching the very top of the mountain, seemingly connecting the mortal plane to the land of the Gods. It was a sign to all of them that the Gods had chosen an Avatar; a mortal who they had judged worthy to house an Aspect, a small piece of their divinity. It was considered a high honor to the one who was selected. And it would be even more so, as the signs had shown that the Sun itself was selecting its Champion. The Radiant Dawn. The one that was revered by the Solari and Rakkor, and would be their leader and ultimate protector against the Endless Night.
Unfortunately, they were only partially correct. The beam of light they could see was not one, but two. And for one of them, it sure as hell didn't feel like an honor. In fact, it was another obstacle that she needed to overcome to reach her true goal.
Leona had been on her way back to her chambers following dinner when she had spotted a figure moving quickly toward the Farewell arch. It didn't even take her a moment to figure out who it was, and what she was planning to do.
It was Diana, her beloved girlfriend. Her beloved girlfriend, who was going to break a promise she had made, and begin the very dangerous climb to the peak. Her beloved girlfriend, who was considered borderline heretical by the Elders… void, by the bulk of the Solari. If she was caught, she would face very harsh punishments from them.
Instead of feeling the slight sting of betrayal that most would have felt, Leona only felt a combination of fear and exasperation. She felt fear for Diana's safety, as she was performing an act that could very well end in her death. Exasperation because honestly, she should have realized that Diana would eventually succumb to her drive for knowledge. (Honestly, it was also one of the many things about Diana she loved most; her seemingly unending curiosity.) Quickly grabbing her sword and shield, as well as a heavy cloak, she had started after her.
It didn't take long for her to find the trail the other girl had left behind, not that it was difficult to follow it. Climbing the mountain wasn't the real challenge, especially for someone who underwent as much physical training as she did. No, the real challenge first came from the cold, which she felt even through the cloak. Then came the visions and hallucinations, which would have made most people crumble. Finally, even with her strength and vitality, her final challenge had been exhaustion. Twice, she almost fell to her death when her grip slipped. But she overcame it all, her fear for Diana's safety increasing with each foot gained. She knew that she was still alive… but for how long?
Thankfully, after what seemed like forever, she finally reached the peak. And, she learned two things.
One: Diana was indeed there, and still very much alive. That was a good thing.
Two: She was surrounded by a beam of pure silver light and in serious pain. That was not a good thing.
If Leona had been paying attention to her surroundings, she would have noticed the cosmic aurorae surrounding her, and the golden city that was seemingly floated above her. But all of her focus was on her girlfriend and helping her before she was destroyed. She rushed forward, heedless of the danger to herself.
And that was when she was struck by a beam of golden light. And pain beyond human comprehension ripped through her. She screamed in agony as her flesh felt like it was being scorched over and over, never stopping.
She saw even more images, memories that were not her own flowing through her mind, as well as hidden knowledge. She could feel power starting to flow into her body, and even more.
She also felt as if something was entering her body, almost like it was trying to possess her. And that was not something she was going to allow to happen. Gritting her teeth, she focused all of her will on this battle. And what a battle it was! This opponent was determined, and came pretty close to winning… but she had fought Atreus on many occasions. Whatever this was, it couldn't even hope to match that level of stubbornness.
And so, she won.
Once the presence had been subdued, Leona gathered her resolve and, despite the pain she was enduring, put one foot in front of the other, hand outstretched, reaching out to Diana. It was difficult, as the beam of light bearing down upon her seemed to have brought gravity along for the ride, weighing her down. But that would not stop her. Nothing would stop her. And, as had been the story of the night, she was successful as her hand grasped Diana's.
Suddenly, new images assaulted her mind, but these memories were far, far darker. She saw an island, covered in white mist, being enveloped in some kind of explosion. She saw a young man, placing a body into a body of water. Pain, suffering, betrayal… so much was being shown that she couldn't keep track of it all. It was too much to bear.
But finally, finally, the silver and gold beams of light faded. The skies slowly calmed down. And Leona and Diana collapsed, like puppets with their strings cut, though their hands remained touching. For a long while afterward, neither moved as if they had perished.
Thankfully, that wasn't the case. Far from it.
LOL
Slowly, a pair of grey eyes opened, staring up at the night sky as her mind rebooted. Images, memories not her own began to flow, each one more incredible than the next. Slowly, a smile broke out across her face as she sat up.
She had found it. She had the truth. The Elders would have to listen to her now!
But after a moment, she realized something that had missed her immediate attention… there was a hand holding hers. She looked to her side, catching sight of a very familiar mane of auburn hair, and her smile grew. "Still trying to protect me," she mused to herself. "If there was anyone I would want to share this with, it would be you, Leona."
As she said this, the person in question let out a moan as she returned to consciousness, her orange-gold eyes clouded in confusion. A confusion that ended when she made contact with Diana's own, and she sat up. "By the Gods, Diana! Are you alright?!" she asked, frantically checking her over.
Chuckling, Diana quickly squeezed Leona's hand, getting her attention. "I'm fine, Leo. It's just a lot to process." She hesitated for a second. "Are you alright?" she asked tentatively.
Leona blinked for a moment, before looking down at herself. "I… I am. Better than I expected to be honest." She focused back on her love. "I'm more exasperated than anything."
Diana had the decency to feel some guilt creep in. She suddenly remembered that she had promised not to continue seeking information about the Lunari Clan, and she had just broken it. "I'm sorry. I tried to-"
"I know. I'm sorry that I didn't understand."
"...Did you… see anything?"
Leona frowned, recalling some of what she had seen. "Images, memories… I also saw darkness, despair... death." She shook her head. "Honestly, I was more focused on you than I was on that." She rose, helping Diana up in the process. "Interesting hair color. It looks good on you. And it looks as though you've acquired some armor."
"Really?" She looked down, taking note of her new garments. It looked like a full suit of armor, colored varying shades of blue and silver, over a blue bodysuit. Feeling a sudden weight on her back, she reached behind herself and grasped what she guessed was a handle. She pulled it out, revealing it to be a curved blade. "It's a khopesh," she whispered, shocked. She looked at Leona again. "I'm not the only one, though. Look at yourself."
Leona looked down as well, her eyes going wide in shock. "Oh my."
She seemed to be covered in shimmering gold. A full suit of armor that was similar in design to Diana's, only forged in pure gold. Underneath the plates, she was wearing a purple bodysuit similar to Diana's. She took a look at her sword, only to discover that it was far different, seemingly forged of the same material. "What is this…?" she got out.
Diana closed her eyes. "I think I know what happened… but I have a feeling that you aren't going to like it."
"As much as I didn't like you climbing up a mountain and putting yourself in danger?"
"…Probably worse. I think we have both been Chosen."
"… … Which means we were seeing memories of the past." Leona sighed, sheathing her blade. "You're right, I don't like this."
"But don't you see?" Diana was starting to vibrate with joy as the possibilities began flooding in. "Both of us, Chosen at the same time? The sun and the moon, standing side by side! We can bring change to the Rakkor, reunite the Solari and Lunari faiths, and end the bloodshed once and for all!" She sheathed her blade, before grabbing Leona's hands. "We should go and tell the Elders about what we have learned!"
Now, in another lifetime, this is where the two would part ways in a most violent way. Leona would remain steadfast in her devotion, essentially pledging to maintain Solari dominance. Diana, not able to believe that Leona would deny everything she had seen, would lose her temper as a result, and the two would fight hard, becoming rivals and inadvertently perpetuating the cycle of violence.
But here and now, though those very words had been at the tip of her tongue, Leona managed to stop herself. Instead, she took a deep breath and thought, really thought about what Diana was saying. She thought about what they had just endured, then looked at her love. She saw her expression, completely free of artifice. There was no desperation, nor smug triumph. She came to a single conclusion.
Despite now being the Chosen of the Moon, Diana was still Diana. And she was looking at her with so much hope, that she just couldn't crush it. But her thoughts came to another startling conclusion.
She sighed. "Here is a question that needs to be asked right now; Would the Elders want to listen?" She held up a hand to stop Diana's inevitable protest. "Think about it, Di. The Elders consider anything concerning the moon as heretical, worthy of being destroyed. And you are already considered borderline by them. If you go to them with this, they will most likely try to kill you. Also, what we know is fragmented and possibly not in order. They would most likely say that we have been deceived, and fed false visions as a test of our faith. And on that subject… we have just gone through quite literally the most overwhelming event anyone here can go through. We've been through a lot." She smiled sheepishly. "I also need some time to process everything we have learned. It goes against everything I have been taught since coming to the Temple."
Well, when she put it like that… Diana's feeling of guilt reasserted itself. She had been so focused on her own feelings, that she had just about neglected Leona's. Leona hadn't come up here for knowledge. She hadn't come up to receive enlightenment. She had come up to protect her. If she had pushed, she would have pushed her away.
So, she metaphorically took a step back, nodding. Revelations could wait.
"I do need to organize all of my findings," she said after a moment, mind racing very fast. "I'll also need my notes and theories… but where do I start?"
"How about we get off this peak and to bed?" Leona suggested teasingly, happy that the situation was resolved. "It won't do any good if you fall asleep halfway through your presentation… like you did when Elder Eos tried to teach us about the art of sun forging. Which I could do a better job at in my sleep."
"But it was so boring!" Diana lamented, recalling that particular day. "Mine will be interesting!" She pouted as the other woman laughed, though she was happy to see Leona wasn't going to abandon her. When they were together, they could beat anything.
And hopefully, they would do so this time, too.
LOL
Luckily for them, upon getting down the mountain and back to Auroral Triumph, they didn't run into anyone, and they were able to avoid being seen. Diana had memorized where the guards patrolled, knew what areas to avoid, and where to hide to avoid them being seen. It provided proof of something Leona suspected all along; that Diana had been sneaking around for quite some time. (Not that she was complaining. That very experience was proving very useful right now.)
They finally reached Diana's quarters, which were much closer than Leona's thankfully. It was also turning out to be a blessing that the new Moon Chosen lived alone, as no one wanted to room with her.
Now came the next challenge; removing their newly-acquired armor.
It proved to be more difficult than they expected.
"Where are the latches on this damn thing?!" Diana growled, looking over the chest plate. "How do the Celestials make these, and not have latches?!"
Leona admittedly was finding the whole thing to be funny, but wisely kept it to herself. For the last few moments or so, she had standing there with her arms outstretched while Diana tried to remove the armor. Grant you, it was easy to keep her amusement down because she knew that she would have to do the same for her soon after.
"Ouch!"
Leona quickly whipped around, taking in the sight of Diana waving her hand around. "What happened?!"
"The chest plate burned me, right through my glove!" Diana replied. "I touched it, and it was like touching a fire pit! What in the Void is this suit made of?!"
What indeed… "Hold on." The Sun's Chosen quickly touched Diana's gloved hand with her own, getting no reaction from her. "Hmm… perhaps the armor will protect itself from being removed." Next, she placed her fingers to the side of Diana's chest plate, then pulled back, her fingers feeling that same burning sensation. "Yours burns as well." She frowned. "We won't be able to keep our secret if we can't remove this stuff." Suddenly, an epiphany occurred. "What if the armor isn't technically here?"
"Come again?"
"What if, because it's forged by the Celestials, it can't be removed by conventional means?" With that thought, she took a step back, closed her eyes, and concentrated.
And, to her absolute surprise(because she wasn't expecting it to work,) she felt her armor begin to disappear. After a few seconds, it was as if it had never been there. She opened her eyes, looking down at herself. "Well, I'm not naked, at least," she mused, seeing that she was back in the clothes she had worn at the beginning of the adventure.
Diana quickly did the same thing, with the same results. "A pretty convenient way of dealing with this," she mused. She took a look at the wall, where their weapons and Leona's new shield sat. "Those didn't disappear as well."
"I'm glad," Leona replied as she sat down next to her, gathering her close. "If anyone asks, I can say that I created them in my spare time."
"You spend most of that time with me."
"I do. You helped with the design."
"Ah."
The two sat there quietly for a moment, leaning against each other in silent support. They knew that, within the next few days, things would change for better or worse.
Diana took a few strands of her now moon-kissed hair and held it in front of her, looking at it nonchalantly. "You know, we're going to need to come up with an explanation for my sudden bleaching," she noted.
Leona shrugged. "We could always say that someone decided to prank you while you slept," she replied. "It's not like it's unfeasible." She felt more than saw the flinch. "Yes, Di. I am well aware that the other acolytes bully you when I'm not around. I can't begin to tell you how many attempts I've actually stopped over the last few years."
"You've… known all of this time? Why didn't you say anything?"
"Why didn't you?" No judgment, no reproach. "I couldn't protect you from the Elder's punishments, but I could have done more against our peers. You didn't deserve to be hurt just for asking questions about our faith."
"And you would have been ostracized for it," Diana told her gently. "I didn't want to destroy the opportunities you would have with the Solari." Nevertheless, she felt her heart flutter at Leona's statement. Even when she was worried that she was going down a heretical path, the Golden Girl was still trying to protect her.
A yawn suddenly emerged from her mouth, catching them both by surprise. They both started giggling at that. "Well," she finally got out, I think we've both had enough excitement for tonight."
Leona nodded, a slight smile on her face. "Too true." She promptly laid down on the bed, making herself comfortable.
Diana blinked a little in surprise, only coming out of it when Leona urged her to lay down. "Uh, Leona," she got out.
"I'm not leaving you alone tonight," Leona informed her. "Besides, I really don't want to deal with my roommates tonight."
Diana was pretty certain that if her smile grew any bigger, he jaw would unhinge itself to accommodate it. The smile didn't fade as she rested her head on Leona's shoulder, and slowly drifted off to sleep. She had one last thought… that this was the safest she had ever felt in forever.
She hoped that tomorrow, that feeling would endure.
LOL
Okay, I do not play League of Legends, but I have found myself enamored with its lore. So I decided to try my hand at writing a story around some of the Champions of Runeterra. More specifically; a What If story revolving around our two resident Aspects of the Sun and the Moon, which some more joining them later on. I'm hoping that I can do them justice.
