//------------------------------// // Things Fall Apart // Story: Champions of the Elements // by The Philosopher King //------------------------------// As soon as this was announced, the Mane Six had only one question that could really be answered; where would they go for the war? As Celestia and Jarvan were walking back into the throne room, Twilight caught up to the pair. “Excuse me, Princess?” asked Twilight. “I wanted to know where me and my friends would be heading for this.” “We decided your group will be split between the fronts.” answered Celestia. “You, Rarity, and Applejack will be on the northern front, and yes Spike will be going with you, while Rainbow Dash, Fluttershy, and Pinkie Pie will be on the western front. We were hoping we wouldn’t have to separate your group, but with Zilean seeing possible futures… the majority of successful ones involve separating the group between the fronts.” Before Twilight could object, an aged man levitated behind her with a clockwork device on his back. He had bright blue-gray hair, and wore a black cloak. The most noticeable feature about him was his pupiless eyes, emitting bright blue energy. “I am sorry, but it is true.” he said. “I am Zilean, the Chronokeeper. Most successful futures involve separating your group. Even then, there are minor futures with success where… what I can only term to you bad things will happen. The good news is, the majority of possible futures involve miniscule loss.” “But…” started Twilight. “No buts. Victory tends to be given to he who strikes first. We cannot stammer. We shall leave at dawn tomorrow. I... reccomend saying your goodbyes today.” said Jarvan IV. “...Okay then.” said Twilight, struggling to hold back. She went out of the room, and walked towards her friends and the Champions including Nasus (Garen and Heimerdinger left already). She thought about how the war would affect the country, how it was tearing her friends apart, how anyone of them could die, and she would live on due to the ascension… and she broke down. She started crying on the ground before even getting to the group. “My goodness, what happened?” asked Ryze, first to her simply because he was closest. “They’re… gonna… split us into groups.” said Twilight. “We’re not going to see each other for a long time, and we leave tomorrow.” Twisted Fate, Graves, and Shaco cheered a little because of leave. Vi and Shyvana glared at them, while Gnar clawed Graves since he was closest. “Well… They’re keeping us with y’all, right?” asked Graves. “Yes… but us, the Elements, are being split into two groups for the war-fronts.” The Elements gasp a little at this. “I’m going to the Northern Front with Rarity and Applejack, and Rainbow Dash, Fluttershy and Pinkie Pie are going to the Western Front. Only a day…” She begins to break down again. “Girl, you gotta toughen up.” said Graves. “You need to shut up!” shouted Rainbow Dash. “This isn’t your Rune-whatchamacallit, this is a land that hasn’t seen war in thousands of years! We’re doing our best, and now we’re being split up for the first time, when we promised not to leave each other! You act like you have loyalty, but you have none!” “Loyalty? Preach that to my partner.” said Graves. “Graves, shut your damn mouth and don’t bring me into this.” said Twisted Fate. “You still abandoned me, and I think it would have been better for us to go down with the mission, would have been better for me to be tortured with you than being tortured by my goddamn self!” “I tried to break you out, and our old crew all died because of it!” replied T.F. “And you lived because you’re a coward!” said Graves. “PEOPLE!” shouted the remaining Champions. “You shall all be fine,” said Nasus. “Twilight and friends, I believe this war won’t tear you apart. Rather, it shall make all of you stronger. Sometimes, friends must separate to return stronger. For if you love something, you must let it go. Otherwise your friendships shall end up like ancient Urtistan, demolished and gone. It will hopefully, not last long. I doubt they expect several armies to fall on their doorsteps.” “Indeed,” said Ryze. “It will be over before you know it.” “All… right.” said Twilight, regaining her composure. “I am sorry, but I must go, I am afraid my Emperor might need me as his Curator,” said Nasus, walking away. “Still, at least we have today.” said Twisted Fate. “T.F, do the world a favor and shut your mouth.” said Graves. “Why don’t both of you do us a favor a shut your mouths, I fought you guys made up already after Gangplank?” asked Vi. “We started back up together, but Graves still ain’t entirely on-board yet.” said T.F. “Well, you two can figure that out on the Northern Front,” said Ryze. “Ryze, you realize we’re on the Northern Front too, right?” said Twilight. “Yeah…” replied Ryze. “Well, I don’t know about you all,” said Shyvana. “But I am going to go look around the city like the other Champions are doing. Does your country accept unmarked gold as currency?” “We call them ‘bits,’ but they are unmarked gold coins, yes.” answered Rarity. “Good, I’m going off now, are you coming with me, summoner?” “Please, call me Spike. And I guess so.” said Spike, who had been silent most of the time. The two walk out of the castle. “Twilight, I am going to go to the archives that I understand are here.” said Ryze. “I wish to acquire more knowledge of your land as Nasus is doing.” “Okay then,” said Twilight. She wanted to go through and read the books anyway, as they might help cheer her up after this figurative bombshell. The pair walk away from the group and enter the archives. Several Champions are seen reading silently, including a blonde man and a brown haired man reading a pair of history texts next to each other. The blonde man, however, closed his book suddenly and rushed out the library. In another corner, Heimerdinger and another Yordle looked into other books, mostly in the technology section The Yordle had a pair of goggles and an aviator’s helmet on, and wore the attire of a pilot. Nasus meanwhile was showing Azir several tomes at a table. Most of them were about the weaponry of the Equestrian Guard, as well as various atlases and books on Equestrian life. “Heh, even now the intelligent champions choose to seal themselves in a library rather than explore the world.” whispered Ryze to Twilight. “At least Ezreal’s still got that kick in him that makes him want to explore.” He walked away from Twilight, towards the brown haired man and picks up the book ‘Ezreal’ was reading. “Jayce, it’s been awhile.” whispered Ryze. “Ryze, it has been awhile. How have you been?” Jayce asked. “Well, judging from what’s about to happen, and what has been happening, not well. My summoner’s never been in battle before, she’s never left her friends, and seems just so… I guess innocent is the term. It’s like this world is paradise falling apart.” “I know right?” replied Jayce. “Their textbooks say they haven’t had a major war in over five thousand years. They had world peace until recently, it’s amazing. They’ve advanced their culture pretty far too, just not to the point of Piltoverian hextech sadly. When the war’s over, we gotta get this country upgraded.” He takes the book Ryze was holding and flips to a page, and pointed to a chapter. It contained information on the last one thousand years, and how recently Ryze’s new summoner had come to light, vanquishing past evil after past evil, plus new ones. “Wait. She’s done all of that?!?!?” asked Ryze, but Nasus shushed him out of habit. The archives of Shurima always had to be quiet, and who better to do that than an Ascended. “Yes,” whispered Jayce. “And who do you mean, she?” “Twilight Sparkle is my Summoner.” answered Ryze. “Wow, and yet you thought she was a greenhorn to fighting.” said Jayce. “She’s a greenhorn to war, I never said anything about fighting. All those were bloodless conflicts, Jayce.” replied Ryze. “But I admit, she might have potential. I am going to look further into the books, I shall see you later, most likely after our service is over.” “I shall see you then,” replied Jayce, as Ryze walked deeper into the archives.