A/N
Yo!
Welcome to the final act of the story. It's been a hell of a ride, and I just want to take a moment to thank everyone who's been reading from the very beginning until now. Your support means the world to me.
Let's dive into some reviews -
darkwolfz – You'll see it this chapter, but the question is... what will Naruto decide?
KaidoFett – Death happens...
Jagsboy – We're getting there. Not long left now!
Lichi Sechino – I'm glad you noticed the Isha scene. I've wanted to give her that moment since she missed her chance in the prime verse. AU Naruto giving her a place shows the ripple effect of those dreams. As for the hex crystals… well, only time will tell if they're a blessing or a curse.
Apex Calibre – The letter holds more than just words, and yes, Naruto is definitely feeling like a failure right now.
Archer headass – That little tease will pay off at the very end.
Addllax – You might be onto something... or not. Let's see how it plays out.
Jester6199 – I'll give it a shot, but no promises, it's tough to execute!
Ravage88atlas – I love your ideas, man. You've put in some solid thought. I won't spoil if you're right or wrong, but you're cooking with some great concepts.
FanFictionman43 – Thanks! I thought that touch added a lot to the story. Everything is about to come full circle.
A fair warning for this chapter, It's a bit darker, with themes of self-harm, so proceed with caution.
Enjoy the chapter.
Chapter 26 - End Begins at the Beginning Act 6
A heavy silence blanketed the scorched battlefield, interrupted only by the sound of death. Smoke swirled around Vi as she staggered through the rubble, her breath ragged and her vision blurred. She clutched her side, feeling the warmth of blood seeping through her fingers. Everywhere she looked, there was destruction.
"Jinx? Naruto?" Vi called out, her voice weak, trembling with desperation.
There was no answer. Just the lingering echo of the explosion that had changed everything.
As she moved forward, her boot caught on something soft. She looked down and her heart stopped. There, half buried in the rubble, was a small hand. Isha's hand. Vi dropped to her knees, choking on her breath as guilt crashed over her.
"I'm sorry…" she whispered, tears streaming down her face. "I'm so sorry…"
Suddenly, the world around her twisted, the rubble fading into darkness. Shadows pressed in on her, cold and suffocating. From the void, a voice echoed a soft, familiar voice.
"Vi…"
Vi's eyes snapped open...
Vi gasped, jolting upright in bed. Pain shot through her body, forcing her to clutch her side with a grimace. Her eyes darted around the room, taking in her unfamiliar surroundings. The walls were painted a purple, and sunlight streamed in through the windows. A small table beside her bed held a glass of water and some bandages.
"Easy there," a voice said from the corner. Loris, stepped forward, his expression one of cautious relief. "You've been out for days. We weren't sure you'd make it."
Vi ignored the ache in her body as she swung her legs over the side of the bed. "What happened to Jinx and Naruto?" she demanded, her voice hoarse but urgent.
Loris hesitated. "Caitlyn wanted to be the one to tell you…"
"Spit it out," Vi snapped, her patience wearing thin.
"They surrendered to the Enforcers," Loris said carefully. "Caitlyn has them in custody in the basement, waiting for you to recover."
Vi's eyes widened in shock, anger quickly bubbling to the surface. "They what?" Without waiting for an explanation, she shoved past Loris, ignoring his protests as she stormed out of the room.
In a study downstairs, Caitlyn stood by a window, arms crossed as she listened to Maddie's suggestion.
"We could negotiate with Ambessa," Maddie offered, her tone measured. "She's ruthless, but she's also practical. There might be a way to—"
"No," Caitlyn interrupted firmly. "Ambessa doesn't negotiate. She takes what she wants, and she'll burn down anything that stands in her way. I'm not risking Piltover by trying to reason with her."
Before Maddie could respond, the door burst open, revealing a furious Vi. "You arrested them?" she spat, disbelief and rage evident in her voice.
Caitlyn dismissed Maddie with a nod, and the woman quietly left the room, closing the door behind her. Caitlyn turned to face Vi, her expression calm but weary. "They surrendered," she said evenly.
"You locked them up after they saved your life?" Vi shouted, stepping closer. "After everything they've been through?"
"It wasn't my call," Caitlyn replied, her voice steady. "They surrendered themselves. I just kept them in custody to make sure they didn't do anything reckless while you were recovering."
Vi clenched her fists, frustration boiling over. "They don't deserve this. They've been through hell, Caitlyn. They deserve a second chance."
Caitlyn sighed, running a hand through her hair. "Maybe. But trusting them isn't easy, Vi. You know what they're capable of. They've done… things. And I need to be sure they're not going to snap again."
Vi's jaw tightened, but she forced herself to take a deep breath. "They're not the same people they used to be. Please, Caitlyn. Give them a chance."
For a long moment, Caitlyn said nothing, her gaze locked on Vi's determined expression. Finally, she nodded, though her hesitation was clear. "Let me talk to them first."
Vi said, her voice softening slightly. "Thank you. Just… give them a chance, okay? That's all I'm asking."
Caitlyn visits Jinx's cell in the bunker below her home. She slides a meal under the door, but the previous meal remains untouched, uneaten and cold. With a sigh, Caitlyn knelt and slid the tray under the door. "You should eat," she said, her voice steady but devoid of judgment. "You won't do yourself any good starving like this."
Inside the cell, Jinx sat in the far corner, her knees pulled to her chest. Her long blue hair was unbraided, a tangled mess that fell over her shoulders. She didn't respond to Caitlyn's words, her gaze fixed on her hands as she picked at her fingernails until small beads of blood appeared.
Caitlyn waited, giving Jinx a moment to speak. When none came, she crossed her arms and leaned against the doorframe. "You know why I'm here," she said, her tone firmer now. "You've got a lot to answer for. You can start by telling me why you did it."
Jinx didn't lift her head. Her lips barely moved as she muttered, "Didn't know your mother would be there."
The admission, though quiet, made Caitlyn's heart clench. She swallowed hard but kept her composure. "And if you did?" she asked, her voice cold. "Would it have stopped you?"
Jinx's fingers stilled, her bloodied nails trembling slightly. She finally raised her eyes, though they didn't meet Caitlyn's. Instead, they focused on something only she could see a hallucination of a younger Naruto, grinning manically.
"Who cares if her mother died?" the hallucination sneered, his voice taunting. "She deserved it, didn't she? They all do." He leaned closer, his eyes gleaming with cruel delight. "Go on, Jinx. Tell her. You don't regret a thing."
"Shut up," Jinx muttered under her breath, her hands clenching into fists. "Just… shut up and leave."
Caitlyn's brows furrowed in confusion. "Who are you talking to?" she asked cautiously, taking a small step closer to the door.
Jinx didn't answer. She pressed her hands against her ears, as if trying to drown out the hallucination's voice. Her breathing grew heavier, and for a moment, Caitlyn considered calling for help. But before she could, Jinx lowered her hands and looked at her through the narrow slot in the door.
"It wouldn't have mattered," Jinx said, her voice hollow. "If I knew your mother was there, maybe… maybe I would've hesitated. But it wouldn't have stopped me."
Caitlyn stared at her, a mixture of anger and sadness tightening her chest. She wanted to lash out, to demand answers, to scream at the girl who had caused so much pain. But instead, she forced herself to stay calm.
"You're wrong," Caitlyn said quietly. "It should have mattered."
Without waiting for a response, Caitlyn turned and walked away, her footsteps echoing down the hall. As she made her way toward Naruto's cell, a part of her wondered if she would get a similar reaction from him—or if, perhaps, there was still something left of the boy Vi insisted deserved a second chance.
Stopping outside Naruto's cell, gripping the tray in her hands a little tighter. The air felt heavier here, oppressive in a way that made her chest ache. She took a deep breath before unlocking the slot in the door and sliding the tray inside.
"Naruto," she called softly, her voice echoing slightly in the cold, empty space.
The figure in the cell didn't move. Naruto sat on the small cot bolted to the wall, his single arm resting limply behind him. His once-bright golden hair, now a washed out shade closer to white, hung lifelessly over his pale face.
His core, once a vibrant blue that lit up rooms, now flickered faintly if at all. He stared at the wall, unmoving, his dull, lifeless eyes fixed on a point Caitlyn couldn't see.
Caitlyn hesitated, unsure how to begin. This wasn't the Naruto she remembered... The boy who always seemed larger than life, whose presence commanded attention even when he wasn't trying. This man was a shadow of that person, a husk drained of will and purpose.
"Naruto," she tried again, a little louder this time, but still gentle. "You should eat. You've been refusing meals for days now."
No response.
Caitlyn set the tray down carefully and leaned against the doorframe, folding her arms as she watched him. Her mind raced for something to say, something that might draw him out of this suffocating silence.
"You know," she started lightly, "Jinx hasn't eaten either. You two always seemed to mirror each other in strange ways, but I'd hoped… maybe one of you would try to snap out of it first."
Still, Naruto didn't move. His breathing was shallow, barely perceptible.
Caitlyn bit her lip, frustration bubbling up in her chest. She hadn't expected this to be easy, but the sheer emptiness in Naruto's demeanor unsettled her.
"Vi's awake," she said softly, watching for any flicker of reaction. "She's worried about you. She… she wants to talk to you."
A faint twitch in his brow, almost imperceptible, but it was there.
Caitlyn pressed on, encouraged by the small sign. "She's going to come down here soon. And when she does, I don't think she'll take no for an answer. You know how she is." She forced a small smile, hoping for any response.
Finally, Naruto's lips moved, barely parting. His voice, rough and hoarse, was almost a whisper.
"She shouldn't waste her time," he said, his tone devoid of emotion.
Caitlyn's heart sank. She crouched slightly, trying to meet his gaze even though he refused to look at her.
"You don't mean that," she said firmly. "Vi cares about you. Jinx too, in her own way. You think they want to see you like this? You think I do?"
Naruto's eyes flickered slightly, but he still didn't meet her gaze. "What do you want me to say?" he muttered, his voice cracking.
"Anything," Caitlyn replied, her voice shaking slightly despite her efforts to stay composed. "I just… I need to know you're still in there, Naruto. That you haven't given up."
He let out a hollow laugh, one that sent chills down her spine. "Haven't given up?" he echoed. "Caitlyn… I surrendered. What do you think that means?"
She clenched her fists, anger and sadness warring within her. "It means you're still here," she said firmly. "It means you're alive, and that's something."
Naruto finally turned his head slightly, just enough for her to see the faintest glimmer of light in his dim blue eyes. "Alive?" he whispered. "Do you think this… is living?"
Caitlyn's breath caught in her throat. She had no words to counter the raw pain in his voice.
"You should go," Naruto said, turning back to the wall. His voice was softer now, barely audible. "You're wasting your time."
Caitlyn straightened, her fists tightening at her sides. "No, Naruto," she said firmly. "You don't get to decide that for me. And I'm not leaving until you understand that."
For a long moment, there was silence. The faint hum of his core was the only sound in the room. Finally, Caitlyn stepped back, her voice quieter but no less resolute.
"I'll come back," she said. "And I'll keep coming back until you realize that you're not alone in this. Whether you like it or not."
With that, she turned and left the cell, her heart heavy as she ascended the stairs.
Naruto's core flickered faintly, casting a weak light in the otherwise dark cell. He sat unmoving, his single arm resting across his lap, his head tilted back against the cold stone wall. His dull eyes stared at the ceiling, his thoughts spiraling endlessly into the void of despair.
Then he heard it.
A soft, familiar voice, delicate and childlike, pierced the silence.
"I hoped I wouldn't have to come back," it said, tinged with sadness.
Naruto's body stiffened. His tired eyes flicked to the corner of the cell, where the faint silhouette of a little girl began to form. Powder no, the hallucination of her stood there, her hair tied in twin braids and her face marked with sorrow.
"Leave," Naruto said coldly, his voice hoarse but sharp. "I didn't want you here in the first place."
The hallucination didn't move. Instead, her gaze shifted, her bright blue eyes peering toward the opposite wall the direction of Jinx's cell. "You still haven't talked to her," she said softly.
Naruto's jaw tightened. He turned his face away, glaring at the floor as his chest tightened with anger and grief. "Why would I?" he muttered, his voice trembling. "She… she…" His words faltered, unable to push through the lump in his throat.
The hallucination tilted her head, her small frame shifting slightly as she clasped her hands together. "You both need each other," she said simply, her soft voice carrying an unexpected weight.
Naruto laughed bitterly, the sound harsh and hollow in the quiet cell. "You might think that," he snapped, his voice laced with venom. "But I don't, not anymore."
The hallucination frowned, her expression twisting into one of heartbreak. She pointed toward the wall separating his cell from Jinx's, her voice trembling. "She's hurting, Naruto. Just like you."
"Good!" he barked, his voice echoing against the stone walls. "Let her hurt! Let her see what it feels like!" His breathing grew uneven, his words dripping with bitterness.
The hallucination took a step closer, her bare feet making no sound against the cold floor. Her small hands clenched into fists as she stared up at him. "Do you really mean that?" she asked, her voice shaking.
Naruto opened his mouth to respond, but the words caught in his throat. His gaze flicked toward the wall, where he knew Jinx sat in her own cell. His lips pressed into a thin line, his anger giving way to something heavier guilt, regret, shame.
"She doesn't need me," he muttered finally, his voice barely above a whisper. "And I don't need her. It's over."
The hallucination's eyes filled with tears as she shook her head. "You don't believe that," she said softly.
Naruto clenched his fist, his nails digging into his palm as he squeezed his eyes shut. "I don't care what I believe," he muttered, his voice cracking.
The hallucination stepped closer, close enough to touch him, though her presence was weightless and ethereal. She tilted her head, her voice trembling as she asked, "If you don't need her… why do you still look at her cell when you think no one's watching?"
Naruto's eyes snapped open, but he didn't respond. His gaze flicked involuntarily toward the wall again, lingering for a moment before he quickly looked away.
"I'm not here to fight with you," the hallucination said quietly. "I'm here because… because you're running out of time, Naruto. And so is she."
Naruto's breathing slowed, the weight of her words pressing down on him like a vice. He leaned his head back against the wall, closing his eyes again as he muttered, "Just go. Leave me alone."
The hallucination hesitated, her small form shimmering faintly as if fading. "I'll go," she said softly. "But I hope… I hope you realize you're wrong before it's too late."
Her voice lingered for a moment after she disappeared, leaving Naruto alone once more in the suffocating silence. He clenched his jaw, refusing to look at the wall again, refusing to let the weight of her words settle in.
But deep down, he felt it the small, painful truth she had left behind, burrowing into his chest like a thorn.
Jayce stood in silence of the newly reconstructed Council chamber, his hands gripping the corrupted Mercury Hammer tightly. The room was grand and pristine, a sharp contrast to the ruins Jayce had traversed in the alternate universe. But even here, among the symbols of Piltover's resurgence, unease clung to him like a shadow.
The Mercury Hammer hummed faintly in his grip, its arcane corruption flickering ominously. As footsteps echoed behind him, Jayce turned to see Mel entering the chamber. Her elegant presence, as poised as ever, seemed out of place in the heavy air of his turmoil.
"Mel," Jayce said, his voice low, laced with distrust.
Mel's golden gaze lingered on the hammer before meeting his eyes. "Jayce," she said softly. "I heard you were back."
As she approached, the corrupted hammer pulsed violently, a dark blue energy crackling around its surface. Jayce noticed the reaction and his grip tightened. "Stay back," he warned, his voice sharp.
Mel halted, her expression calm despite the growing tension. "It's reacting to me," she said knowingly, her tone even.
Jayce's eyes narrowed. "Why? What are you?"
Mel's lips pressed into a thin line, hesitation flickering in her eyes before she spoke. "I… didn't know at first. I only began to understand after the attack after Jinx's rocket."
Jayce's mind raced. He recalled the destruction, the chaos, and how he and Mel had survived when so many hadn't. The truth hit him like a thunderbolt. "It was you," he said, his voice trembling with anger. "You're a mage."
Mel nodded slowly. "Yes. It was my power that shielded us."
Jayce's knuckles whitened as he clenched the hammer tighter. "You could've saved everyone," he growled, his voice rising. "You could've stopped all of it!"
Mel's expression softened, though guilt shadowed her features. "I didn't understand my abilities then, Jayce. I didn't know what I was capable of."
"That's not good enough!" Jayce shouted, slamming the hammer into the ground. The corrupted energy pulsed outward, rattling the chamber as his voice echoed in the vast space. "You let them die!"
Mel held her ground, her voice firm but calm. "And I live with that every day. But blaming me won't bring them back, Jayce."
Before Jayce could respond, a sudden hum filled the room, low and mechanical. He turned sharply as a sleek white robot with gold trim stepped from the shadows. Its design was eerily similar to the machines he had encountered in the alternate universe.
The robot tilted its head slightly, its polished surface gleaming in the faint light. When it spoke, Viktor's familiar voice resonated through the chamber. "Jayce. Mel," Viktor said smoothly. "I hoped we could speak without hostility."
Jayce raised the Mercury Hammer defensively, his eyes narrowing. "Viktor," he spat. "You're behind this?"
The robot took a cautious step forward, its movements fluid and almost human. "I am not your enemy, Jayce," Viktor replied. "I seek to resolve this conflict peacefully. Together, we can achieve the Glorious Evolution. There is no need for further bloodshed."
"Peaceful?" Jayce scoffed, leveling the hammer. "Your machines are running rampant, and you think I'd join you? Never."
The robot paused, its gold-trimmed head tilting slightly as if considering his words. "A shame," Viktor said, his voice tinged with regret. "But know this, Ambessa has her own plans. She will not stop until she has reshaped Piltover to her will."
Jayce refused to lower his weapon, his distrust of Viktor outweighing any fear of Ambessa. "And I suppose you're the better option?" he shot back.
Viktor sighed, his voice becoming colder. "I had hoped you would see reason, Jayce. But if you refuse to stand with me, I must ensure you cannot stand against me."
The robot lunged, its movements a blur of precision and power. Jayce barely had time to raise the hammer, the corrupted energy sparking violently as it clashed with the machine's gold-plated arm.
Jayce and Mel fought together, the chamber ringing with the sounds of their desperate struggle. The robot was relentless, its attacks calculated and unyielding. Jayce's hammer roared with corrupted energy, each swing driving the machine back but never fully disabling it. Mel, imbued with her latent magic, struck with precision, her abilities amplifying Jayce's blows.
Finally, with a well-coordinated strike, Jayce and Mel overwhelmed the robot. As Jayce brought the hammer down with all his might, the machine collapsed in a shower of sparks, its gold-trimmed body crumpling to the ground.
The voice of Viktor crackled from the broken machine. "You leave me no choice," he said, his tone devoid of emotion. "Begin the process."
The connection severed, leaving Jayce and Mel standing amidst the debris. Jayce's breathing was heavy, his grip on the hammer unsteady. Mel looked at him, her expression unreadable.
"What now?" she asked softly.
Jayce stared at the remains of the robot, Viktor's ominous words echoing in his mind. He tightened his grip on the hammer, the corrupted energy swirling faintly. "We stop him," he said grimly.
As Jinx sat curled in the corner of he cell, her knees drawn tightly to her chest. Her long, unbraided hair hung in wild strands, obscuring her hollow pink eyes. Her fingers fidgeted endlessly, nails scratching at her palms until they bled, but she didn't seem to notice or care. The tray of food Caitlyn had left earlier remained untouched, cold and forgotten on the floor.
The suffocating silence was broken by a soft, familiar voice.
"Ah, my little Jinx," came the unmistakable tone of Silco, smooth and measured, carrying a strange mix of comfort and unease.
Jinx's head shot up, her breath catching as her eyes darted around the room. The shadows in the corner shifted, and from the darkness emerged a phantom Silco, his pale face illuminated by the faint light from the small barred window.
Her heart sank. She knew this wasn't real. Silco was long dead, but the hallucinations never seemed to care about logic. They came and went, like cruel visitors to a house of grief. She buried her face in her hands.
"Go away," she muttered. "I don't want to talk to you."
The phantom took a slow step closer, his voice calm, almost fatherly. "You always were quick to shut people out. Especially when the world started to crumble around you."
Jinx let out a bitter laugh, her nails digging into her scalp. "You don't know anything about what I've done."
Silco tilted his head, his one good eye gleaming with something between pity and judgment. "Oh, I know, my dear. I know exactly what you've done. I also know why."
Jinx didn't reply, her shoulders trembling as she tried to drown him out. Silco, of course, persisted.
"Killing," he began, pacing slowly around the room, his hands clasped behind his back. "It's a cycle. One life taken leads to another. You kill for revenge, for protection, for power. But where does it stop?"
Jinx's voice cracked as she hissed, "You would know, wouldn't you? You started all of this."
Silco chuckled softly, stopping just in front of her. "Perhaps I did. But you, my little Jinx, perfected it. You made it an art."
Jinx snapped her head up, glaring at the phantom with a fury that masked her deep sorrow. "I just… I wanted to make things right," she said, her voice breaking. "But everything I touch… everything I try to fix… it breaks."
Silco knelt to her level, his gaze steady and piercing. "Because you're trying to fix it with the same tools that broke it." His voice softened, almost a whisper. "You're trapped in the cycle. And the only way to break it, my dear, is to find the will to walk away."
Jinx's lip quivered as her eyes flicked toward the bars of her cell, she could see Naruto's cell across the hall. He hadn't moved in days, hadn't spoken, hadn't even looked her way. His light, once so vibrant, was almost completely extinguished.
Her heart clenched painfully as fragments of her harsh words to him resurfaced. She remembered her accusations, her anger, the blame she'd thrown his way like daggers. Each memory hit her like a tidal wave, and the weight of her guilt threatened to drown her.
"I didn't mean it," she whispered, tears streaming down her cheeks. "I didn't mean any of it. I just wanted… I just wanted us to be okay again."
Silco's phantom rose, his form beginning to dissolve back into the shadows. His final words lingered, heavy and haunting. "Then start by letting go of the hate. Because it will destroy you long before it fixes anything."
Jinx was left alone once more, staring at Naruto's cell with a hollow ache in her chest. Her fingers stopped picking at her skin as she rested her head against the cold wall.
"I'm sorry," she whispered to the empty air. "I just don't know how to fix this."
And for the first time since her imprisonment, Jinx allowed herself to cry, not in rage, but in sorrow and regret.
Vi moved with purpose, her hand gripping a set of stolen keys tightly. Her expression was steeled with determination, though a flicker of hesitation betrayed her inner turmoil. Reaching Jinx's cell, she paused, taking a deep breath before inserting the key into the lock.
The heavy metal door creaked open, revealing Jinx curled in the corner, her unkempt hair casting shadows over her face. She didn't look up, her fingers still idly tracing lines on the cold floor.
"Jinx," Vi said softly, her voice tinged with a mix of hope and desperation.
Jinx flinched but didn't respond.
Vi stepped inside, crouching to meet her sister at eye level. "I'm getting you out of here. You've been through enough. We both have. But it's not too late to rewrite this story."
Jinx's fingers paused mid-trace, her pink eyes flickering with an unreadable emotion. "Rewrite the story?" she muttered, her voice barely above a whisper. "Vi… you don't understand. This story's already written, and the ending's carved in stone."
Vi shook her head firmly, grabbing Jinx by the shoulders. "No, it's not. You're stronger than this. Smarter. We can defend Piltover together. Ambessa's coming, and I need you. The city needs you. We can make it right."
For a moment, Jinx seemed to consider her sister's words. Her eyes softened as she met Vi's gaze. The walls she'd built around her heart began to crack, letting in the faintest glimmer of hope.
Then, as Vi leaned in to embrace her sister, Jinx's expression hardened. Without warning, she delivered a sharp punch to Vi's gut, sending her staggering backward. The keys fell from Vi's hand, clattering loudly against the floor.
"Jinx!" Vi gasped, clutching her stomach in pain. She looked up at her sister, confusion and hurt etched across her face.
Jinx snatched the keys and backed away, shaking her head. "No, Vi. I can't be part of this. I can't be the hero in your story."
"Jinx, wait!" Vi pleaded, stumbling to her feet.
Jinx stepped out of the cell, slamming the door shut and locking it behind her. Her hands trembled as she turned the key, but she forced herself to meet Vi's gaze through the bars.
"You deserve to be happy, Vi," Jinx said, her voice quivering. "You don't need to feel guilty about it anymore." Jinx said slowly walking away from Vi. "You deserve to be with her."
Vi reached for the bars, her voice breaking. "Don't do this... Please just wait"
Jinx shook her head, tears streaming down her face. "No, Vi. There's no good version of me."
Vi watched as Jinx moved away, talking to her one more time "What are you gonna do?"
Jinx stopped, looking back at her Vi. "I'm going to break the cycle."
Before Vi could respond, Jinx turned and walked down the corridor, clutching the keys tightly in her hand. Her steps slowed as she approached the adjacent cell, Naruto's.
The faint blue glow of his core was barely visible in the shadows, a dim and fading light. He sat with his back against the wall.
Jinx hesitated outside his cell, her fingers brushing over the keys. She bit her lip, her heart pounding as she pushed the door open.
Naruto didn't look up.
"Hey," Jinx said softly, stepping inside and closing the door behind her. Her voice was fragile, uncertain. "It's me."
Naruto didn't respond, didn't even acknowledge her presence. Jinx knelt in front of him, her hands trembling as she reached out to touch his face. He flinched slightly but didn't resist.
"I know I screwed up," Jinx whispered, her voice breaking. "I hurt you. I hurt everyone. And I don't even know how to fix it. But… I'm here."
Naruto's eyes flickered briefly, meeting hers for a fleeting moment before looking away. His voice was hoarse when he finally spoke. "You can't fix it, Jinx. It's already broken."
Jinx's breath hitched, her tears falling freely now. "Maybe it is," she admitted. "But that doesn't mean we have to stay broken. We can… we can figure it out. Together."
Naruto's silence stretched between them, heavy and suffocating. For the first time in what felt like an eternity, Jinx didn't know what to say.
So she just stayed there, kneeling in front of him, her hand resting lightly on his. And for a moment, in the quiet of the cell, it felt like the world had paused. Like maybe, just maybe, there was still a chance for them.
As Jinx stood before him, unsure of what to say or do. Her breath hitched as she finally mustered the courage to break the suffocating quiet.
"Naruto," she said softly, stepping closer. "I… I'm sorry."
Her words felt fragile, as though they might shatter the moment they touched the air. But Naruto didn't react. He didn't even look at her.
"Why…" His voice was low, rasping with pain and resentment. "Why do you always survive?"
Jinx blinked, confused and taken aback. "What do you mean?"
Naruto slowly lifted his gaze, his dull blue eyes piercing through her. The pain in his expression was unbearable to witness. "Why is it always you, Jinx? Why do you live… when they don't?"
Jinx took a small step back, her breath catching in her throat. She opened her mouth to speak, but no words came. The tears started to form in her pink eyes, and her hands trembled at her sides.
"Answer me!" Naruto's voice erupted, raw and thunderous, the sound echoing off the walls. His single arm clenched into a fist as he glared at her with a fiery intensity she hadn't seen in weeks.
Jinx stammered, her voice barely audible. "I-I don't… I didn't mean—"
Naruto cut her off, his voice dripping with bitterness. "Those are the words you said to me. Do you remember? How does it feel, Jinx? To hear them thrown back at you? To feel that same knife you twisted in me?"
Jinx's tears spilled over as she crumpled in front of him. "It broke my heart," she whispered. "It shattered me."
Naruto stood slowly, his movements deliberate and heavy. "Good," he said coldly. "Because that's what you did to me. After everything we've been through, after all we've lost… you tore out what little was left of me."
Jinx reached out as he moved toward the cell door. "Wait!" she cried. "Naruto, please… I didn't mean to hurt you. I—I was scared! I didn't know what else to do!"
Naruto stopped just before the doorway and turned to face her, his expression like stone. "This is it, Jinx," he said, his voice low and firm. "This is the end."
Jinx's lip quivered as tears streamed down her cheeks. "No!" she sobbed, rushing to him and wrapping her arms around his torso. She buried her face against him, her voice trembling with desperation. "Please, don't leave me! I'm sorry for everything! I'll do anything... anything to make it right!"
Naruto stood stiff in her embrace, unyielding. Slowly, he placed his hand on her shoulder and pushed her away. "You might be sorry," he said, his tone devoid of warmth, "but a simple sorry won't fix this. Nothing will."
Jinx looked at him, her heart breaking as his words crushed her. "I'll change! I'll make it right, Naruto, I promise—"
"Stop," he said firmly, stepping back. His core flickered faintly, the light within it waning further. "Do you remember what I used to say? 'No matter what, I'm always with you'? I meant it… but not anymore."
Jinx's knees buckled, and she collapsed onto the floor, sobbing uncontrollably as Naruto began to walk away. "Naruto, please! Don't go! I'll do anything just tell me how to fix this!"
Naruto didn't look back. His core began to hum softly as he summoned his fading power, a faint glow enveloping him. "Don't come looking for me, Jinx. We're done, for good."
With that, his body shimmered and faded, the blue light of his core flaring one last time before he vanished completely.
"Naruto!" Jinx screamed, scrambling to her feet and running to where he had been. The cold, empty space where he stood offered no answers, no comfort. She collapsed again, clutching her chest as the void inside her grew unbearable.
Through her tears, she whispered to herself, "I'll find you. I'll make it right, no matter what it takes. Because... I love you"
The houses of Piltover filled the room, their members whispering among themselves, exchanging wary glances. Seated in the shadowed corners were Sevika and Scar, representatives of Zaun, their expressions unreadable. At the head of the room stood Jayce, battered but resolute, his presence commanding attention.
Before him, displayed on a massive table, lay the broken shell of the robot that had nearly ended his life. Its gold-trimmed plating glinted dully under the chamber's chandelier light, its severed limbs a grim testament to its lethal design.
Jayce slammed his fist on the table to silence the murmurs. "Enough talk," he declared. "Look at this!" He pointed to the ruined machine, his voice echoing through the chamber. "This isn't a mere weapon. It's the harbinger of a war unlike anything Piltover or Zaun has ever faced."
The whispers stopped entirely, replaced by a tense silence as every eye turned toward him.
"This robot," Jayce continued, his tone heavy, "is only one of hundreds maybe thousands that Viktor has prepared. And they're coming. Not just for Piltover, but for Zaun too. For all of Runeterra."
Some council members shifted uncomfortably in their seats. A few exchanged uneasy glances. Sevika, however, leaned back, arms crossed, her face a mask of indifference.
Jayce's voice softened slightly, appealing to reason. "If Viktor reaches the hexgates, the calamity will be unimaginable. He'll use them to spread his corruption far beyond our borders. This isn't just Piltover's fight. This is everyone's fight."
He turned to Sevika, his tone growing more pointed. "Zaun needs to stand with us. Your people are just as at risk as mine. Where's Naruto? We need him."
Sevika's lips curled into a bitter smile. "Naruto's missing," she said curtly, her voice dripping with disdain. "And if you're counting on him to save you, you're already screwed."
Jayce blinked, taken aback by her bluntness. "What do you mean, 'missing'? Where is he?"
Sevika shrugged. "Last I heard, he was walking away from everything his people, his fight, all of it. Guess he decided he's had enough of your mess." She glanced at Scar, who nodded silently, his gaze sharp and critical. "Naruto's not your saviour. He's not anyone's saviour anymore."
The room erupted into murmurs again, louder this time. Jayce clenched his fists, trying to contain his frustration. "Then what about Zaun? Will you fight for your own survival? Or will you just let Viktor destroy everything you've built?"
Sevika stood, her chair scraping loudly against the floor. "We've had enough of Piltover's games. You come down here when it suits you, take what you want, and now you want us to die for your city? No thanks." She motioned for Scar, and the two of them turned to leave.
"You talk about how Piltover takes from Zaun," he said, his tone cutting through the murmurs, "but what Viktor is planning? He won't just take. He'll annihilate everything. You're walking away, Sevika, but when those machines march through Zaun, don't say I didn't warn you."
Sevika paused, her shoulders stiffening. Scar glanced at her, his brow furrowed, but said nothing.
Jayce pressed on, his voice rising with urgency. "This isn't about Piltover versus Zaun. This is about survival—about ensuring there's even a Zaun left to fight for."
Sevika turned slowly, her face hard as stone. "You've got a lot of nerve, Talis. After everything Piltover's done, you expect us to trust you?"
"No," Jayce admitted, stepping forward. "I don't expect you to trust me. But I expect you to care about Zaun. About your people. And if you don't stand with us now, there won't be anything left for either of us to fight over."
The room fell silent. All eyes were on Sevika, her expression unreadable. She exchanged a glance with Scar, who finally broke his silence.
"He's not wrong," Scar muttered, his gravelly voice low but firm. "If Viktor gets to the hexgates, it's over. For everyone."
Sevika scoffed, her lips twisting into a bitter smile. "You're a smooth talker, Jayce. I'll give you that."
She turned back fully, her sharp eyes scanning the room. "But you're right about one thing we care about Zaun. So here's the deal, Zaun will fight. But we do it on our terms. No Piltover generals barking orders, no enforcer oversight. You need us, not the other way around."
Jayce hesitated, then nodded. "Agreed."
Sevika stepped closer, her presence commanding. "And one more thing," she added. "If we're risking our necks for this, you'd better deliver on your promise to end this occupation for good."
Jayce extended a hand, his face resolute. "The checkpoints are already coming down. You have my word."
For a moment, Sevika stared at his hand, her expression unreadable. Then, with a small, sharp nod, she shook it. The chamber erupted into murmurs again, but this time they were less fearful and more energized.
"We're in," Sevika said simply. She gestured to Scar, who gave Jayce a curt nod before they both returned to their seats.
The evacuation of Piltover's outer districts was a grim yet orderly affair. Families loaded belongings onto carts and vehicles, their faces etched with worry and determination. In Zaun, the undercity buzzed with a different kind of energy. Streets that once echoed with chaos now rang with the sound of people readying for battle.
The enforcers took on a new role, training volunteers from both cities. Makeshift training grounds sprang up everywhere factories, rooftops, and even abandoned courtyards. Among the recruits was Gert, his usual easy going demeanour replaced with quiet focus as he practiced firing a modified hextech rifle. Next to him, a young pianist fumbled with the controls of a similar weapon, her hands more accustomed to ivory keys than triggers.
"Relax your shoulders," Gert said, his voice softer than usual as he helped adjust her stance. "It's not so different from playing music. Steady hands. Rhythm."
The pianist nodded, her face pale but determined. "I just want to help," she murmured, gripping the rifle tightly.
Gert gave her an encouraging smile, then returned to his own practice, stealing a glance at the distant horizon where Viktor's forces loomed ever closer.
In Jinx's empty cell, Vi sat slumped against the wall, her head in her hands. Her usually fierce demeanor was gone, replaced by an exhaustion that cut deeper than physical wounds. She didn't stir when Caitlyn entered, the click of her boots echoing in the silence.
"Still sulking, huh?" Caitlyn's voice was gentle but edged with her usual no-nonsense tone.
Vi didn't look up. "You were right, Cait. About Jinx. She's—" Vi stopped, her voice breaking. "She's too far gone."
Caitlyn leaned against the bars, folding her arms. "I don't think so."
Vi scoffed, finally lifting her head. "She locked me in here. Ran off. How is that not proof?"
Caitlyn sighed, unlocking the cell door. "Because I pulled the guards out of here. I wanted to give you a chance to save her, Vi. And I think you still can."
Vi stared at Caitlyn, disbelief flickering across her face. Slowly, she stood, her rough hand running through her short, pink hair. "Why? After everything why do you still believe in her?"
Caitlyn hesitated, then stepped closer. "Because I believe in you."
For a moment, they just stood there, the air between them heavy with unspoken tension. Then Vi closed the distance, pulling Caitlyn into a kiss rough, desperate, and full of emotions too tangled to name. Caitlyn froze at first, her logical mind screaming at her to pull away.
"I've been seeing Maddie," Caitlyn managed to whisper when Vi's lips left hers for a moment.
Vi's smirk was faint but unapologetic. "I don't care."
Caitlyn's hesitation melted away as Vi kissed her again, her arms wrapping around the commanders waist. This time, Caitlyn didn't resist. The moment blurred, raw and consuming, as the two gave in to the storm of emotions they had been holding back for so long...
After the deed...
Caitlyn started buttoning her uniform while Vi leaned against the wall, a satisfied grin on her face.
"That was reckless," Caitlyn murmured, adjusting her belt.
Vi shrugged, her grin widening. "Yeah, but you didn't stop me."
Caitlyn shot her a sharp look, though her cheeks were tinged with red. "This doesn't mean anything changes, Vi."
"Sure," Vi said nonchalantly, though the glint in her eyes said otherwise. She stretched, cracking her knuckles. "So, you gonna let me out now, or are we making this a regular thing?"
Caitlyn rolled her eyes but couldn't suppress a small smile as she unlocked the cell door. "Come on. There's a war to win."
Vi stepped out, her usual swagger returning as she fell into step beside Caitlyn.
Naruto walked aimlessly, his feet dragging across the cracked cobblestones of Piltover's outskirts. The city hummed with energy as people prepared for the battle to come, yet he felt distant from it all, lost in a fog of his own mind.
His vision blurred, shifting between the reality he knew and fleeting glimpses of another life.
In one moment, he was himself broken, worn, and alone. In the next, he saw... him. The other Naruto. That version of him was smiling, his eyes gleaming with confidence as he held Powder—no, Jinx, but not Jinx. Her hair was short, her eyes soft, and her smile innocent. They danced in a world full of light, free from the pain he carried now.
"Enjoying the show?" The voice came from nowhere yet everywhere. It was his voice, but not his tone. It was mocking, filled with cruel amusement. Naruto's heart raced as he whipped around, searching for the source.
And there he was the alternate Naruto, standing with that same confident smirk, his hair shining under an unseen sun. He crossed his arms, tilting his head in mock pity.
"You're pathetic, you know that?" the vision taunted, stepping closer. "Look at you, wandering around like a lost dog. This is what you've become? Meanwhile, I'm living the dream."
Naruto clenched his fists, his teeth grinding. "You're not real," he muttered, shaking his head. "Just a vision. Just... my mind playing tricks."
The other Naruto laughed, a sound that echoed in his ears like shards of glass. "Sure, keep telling yourself that. But we both know the truth, don't we? You hate me. You hate that my life turned out better. And you're right to hate me I mean, look at what you have. Nothing. No family, no purpose. No Jinx."
"Shut up!" Naruto roared, gripping his head as if trying to crush the voice out of existence. But it didn't stop. The other Naruto walked closer, circling him like a predator.
"You could've had it all, you know," the voice continued, more venomous now. "If you weren't such a coward. If you had just let go, embraced the power you had, stopped caring about anyone else. You'd be where I am right now. Happy. Loved. Whole."
Naruto stumbled, the world spinning around him. When he steadied himself, he realized where his wandering had taken him.
He stood before the Uzumaki family home. The once-grand structure was now a ghost of its former self. The windows were shattered, the walls cracked and overrun with vines. The garden where his mother used to plant flowers was overgrown with weeds, the gate rusted and hanging off its hinges. It was a house of memories, now abandoned to time.
Naruto took a step forward, the other him fading into nothing but whispers. "What are you doing back here?" the voice mocked, softer now but no less cutting. "Looking for answers? Closure? There's nothing left for you here, loser."
Ignoring the taunts, Naruto pushed the gate open, the creak of metal echoing in the stillness. He stepped onto the crumbling porch and hesitated before the door. His hand trembled as he pushed it open, the wood groaning under the weight of his touch.
The air inside was thick with dust, the scent of decay mingling with the faint remnants of what once was a home filled with laughter, warmth, and love. His footsteps echoed as he moved through the empty halls, each creak of the floorboards pulling him deeper into the memories.
He stopped in the living room, his eyes falling on a broken painting frame lying face down on the floor. He knelt, his hand brushing away the dust as he turned it over. The glass was cracked, but he could still make out the image a family portrait. His parents, smiling brightly, with a younger version of himself nestled between them. They looked so happy. So alive.
Naruto's vision blurred with tears as he clutched the frame to his chest. "Why... why did it have to end like this?" he whispered to no one.
The voice returned, quieter this time. "Because you're weak. You couldn't protect them. Just like you couldn't protect Isha. Or Jinx. Or anyone."
Naruto slammed the frame down, shattering what was left of the glass. "Get out of my head!" he yelled, his voice cracking. His breathing was ragged as he fell to his knees, gripping his hair.
For a moment, there was silence. Then, softly, a different voice broke through.
"Maybe you're not supposed to protect everyone," it said. It was the voice of Isha, gentle and calm. "Maybe you're just supposed to be there for them when they need you. Isn't that enough?"
Naruto froze, his body trembling. "Isha..." he whispered, his heart aching at the sound of her name. But when he looked around, there was no one there. Only the empty, broken house.
He ran his fingers along the banister of the grand staircase, the wood splintering under his touch. Memories flooded back unbidden the sound of his mother's laughter, his father's calm voice, the warmth of the family dinners they used to share.
But those moments felt like they belonged to another lifetime, a different person. He wasn't that boy anymore. That boy was gone, lost in the chaos of a life that had given him so much, only to rip it all away.
Naruto found himself in the dining room, the long table covered in a thick layer of dust. He pulled out a chair and sat down, the faint creak of the wood breaking the oppressive silence. He stared at the empty chair across from him, imagining a younger version of himself sitting there, laughing and smiling, carefree.
He reached onto the floor and picked up a glass shard. It was sharp, deadly, the perfect weapon for what he had in mind. He held it up to the faint light filtering through the cracked windows, the jagged edges glinting ominously.
He leaned back in the chair, letting his head rest against the wall, and began to talk to himself.
"A boy who had no memories..." he started, his voice hollow, barely more than a whisper. "He wakes up in a city that doesn't want him... doesn't need him. But then he meets a girl."
His hand trembled as he gripped the shard tighter, his knuckles turning white. "She was everything he didn't know he needed. Bright, fearless... she made him believe in something. And together, they built a life. They got adopted. They ruled the underworld."
A bitter laugh escaped his lips. "They thought they could do anything. But kings and queens don't last, do they?"
He looked down at the shard in his hand, its edge pressed against the faintly glowing core in his chest. "They had a younger sibling. She was perfect. A little star in a world full of darkness. But stars... stars burn out."
His voice broke as the memory of Isha's lifeless body flashed in his mind. His grip tightened on the shard, pressing it harder against his core. The faint glow began to flicker erratically, as if struggling to stay alive.
"She was everything," he whispered, tears streaming down his face. "And they took her. They took her right in front of me. And I... I couldn't stop them."
He coughed violently, blood spilling from his mouth and staining the floor. He wiped it away with a trembling hand, his vision blurring as his body began to shake. "A boy who loses everything... who fails everyone. His father, his family, his queen... and in the end, he can't even keep the girl..."
Naruto pressed the shard harder against his core, a sickening crack echoing through the room as the surface fractured. The pain was instant and overwhelming, radiating through his entire body. Blood dripped from his mouth, pooling on the floor beneath him.
"And that's it," he whispered, his voice barely audible now. His tears mixed with the blood as his vision began to fade. "That's how the story ends... the boy kills himself."
The shard slipped from his hand, clattering onto the floor. His body convulsed as he slid from the chair, collapsing onto the cold, dusty ground. The glow of his core flickered weakly, struggling to hold on, before dimming almost completely…
Chapter 26 - End Begins at the Beginning Act 6 End
A/N
And that's the end…
The Blue-Eyed Demon.
The King of Zaun.
The Hero.
At the core of it all, he's just a boy who's had enough...with everything.
I won't spoil much about what's coming next, but I hope you enjoyed this chapter as much as I enjoyed writing it.
Until next time,
Byebye!