//------------------------------// // Chapter 7 // Story: Into the League // by Seth Typofather //------------------------------// “I’m sorry, you’re not the Yordle I knew,” said Tristana, avoiding eye contact. “The war’s been over for some time, but you still distance yourself from everyone. You distance yourself from me…” “I can’t stop, Tristana, we both know the war is never truly over,” Teemo replied coldly. “If Veigar can fit into society after what he’s done and been through, why can’t you?” she questioned, folding her arms. “Him and Lulu have been happily married and great friends with us ever since you helped change him with that dating service stunt you pulled! Sure he’s still evil, but he at least knows when a line is crossed unlike you! Where’s the brave, kind scout I first met?!” she screamed, throwing a picture at him which he barely flinched at. “You’ve become a murderer, and you just accept it while The Mothership covers your ass! The Teemo I knew would-“ “The Teemo you knew is dead!” Teemo finally shouted, rendering Tristana speechless as tears rolled down her cheeks. “I have to go now, the Institute have prepared an ARAM match.” Turning his back to her, he walked out the door. As much as it pained him, he knew that she would be gone when he comes back. For the best he hoped, so that she would not have to suffer. The more lies he told himself and others, the deeper his own mind’s grave is dug. Opening his eyes, Teemo laid there for a few minutes. It was still dark outside, no doubt about that. The only thing illuminating the cabin being the passing lights from lamps lining the railroad. “Trouble sleeping?” Twilight asked. No response. “Me too… I’m just so worried about how things will turn out when we do encounter your enemies.” Still no response. “I…heard you talking in your sleep. You really cared about her didn’t you? Teemo, I know we just met yesterday, but I can tell when someone has problems. Especially when you told me of your history. But bottling it all up with a harsh exterior will not work for both of you. Maybe try and talk to her, maybe take a long vacation with her away from the stress. If she is gone when you come home, maybe look to this Veigar for help?” A long silence followed. “Sorry… I suppose you don’t wanna hear it from sompony you just met,” Twilight sighed, turning over. “Twilight,” Teemo began. “Thank you…” Smiling slightly, she nodded in the darkness. “Anytime, a friend it always here for you.” Trundle dragged his feet across the ground, using his club as a staff for the weight he bore on his back. Lissandra, the Ice Witch sat upon a throne of black ice frozen to his back. “A-Are you sure this guy’s here?” “How many times must we repeat ourselves, ignorant filth?” she snapped, her words as cold as her throne. “Our vision can not lie.” “Ain’tcha blind?” “Silence!” Lissandra snapped again. “You may offer an army, but your barbaric babbling is a pain. Our guide has given us the directions we require to this capital, she shall await us there.” Trundle grumbled, “Why don’t we just nab a train like this little brat you kept me from eating?” “Too much attention will be centred upon us, now walk, I expect us to arrive by next nightfall.” His knees ached, but to complain would only mean more weight on his shoulders. Trundle grumbled in his thoughts of how he wished he could crush her like glass. Without the League’s limitation field in Summoner’s Rift, she could constantly keep him entombed with her black ice and no one would dare question it. A green light in the distance though caught his eye, hoping it would get her off his back the troll pointed. “Green light, ya think it’s Thresh?” “The Chain Warden? Splendid, he shall assist us well. Kneel,” she said, standing upon her servant’s hunched back. He kneeled forth, allowing her to step down onto the ground which froze immediately. Lissandra slid across the grass, plant life nearby freezing to death from her icy aura. Thresh quickly took notice of her presence, his grin growing as he turned to face her. “To what do I owe the honour of meeting you here again?” he chuckled. “It is nice for us to meet you again, someone with competence for once,” Lissandra said with a nod. “Did you get seen?” “Yes, but these creatures met Tryndamere, Ashe and Teemo already. They knocked me off the train before I can harvest such…innocent souls.” Thresh cackled maniacally at the thought of such souls in his lantern. Growling under her breath, Lissandra’s icy aura expanded at the thought of Ashe, the one who stood in the way of conquest. “That insolent child…” An icy claw rose from the ground, gripping a tree. “Let us head to their location, without the inhibitions of the Rift we can take their lives and this kingdom.” “And if the royals get in our way?” Thresh eagerly asked, swinging his chained scythe in circles. The icy claw tightened around the tree. “Simple, they die.” With that, the claw snapped the tree into splinters. A booming voice echoed through Lissandra’s head, causing her to double over in pain. An ancient incomprehensible language only understood by her, complete gibberish to those around her as it echoed outwards. Thresh observed in bewilderment to the voices, while Trundle on the other hand enjoyed the rare sight of her suffering due to the Watchers’ commands. “Forget your pitiful vendetta! You have been bestowed control over all ice to become our herald! Settle your petty squabbles once you have returned us to the physical plane!” Their voices echoed like a blizzard, endlessly freezing her very soul. “Of course…” Lissandra panted. “Of course… my apologies. Forgive me for being so ungrateful…” Her hunched over frame was surely a pitiful sight to behold. “Get back, this guy ain’t safe to even be near!” Lucian commanded, his lightslingers aimed directly at Brand through the bubble shield. “Other than Thresh this guy is a top containment priority!” “Don’t worry, these unicorns have contained far worse than this,” Celestia reassured Lucian. “That’s because you don’t know what he can do!” “I can hardly move,” Brand growled, his flames roaring outwards against the field. “I want to burn you all, turn you all to ashes.” The intensity of the flames lit up the dim room with an eerie orange glow as Brand thrashed wildly inside. “I WANT TO SHOW THE WORLD MY BURNING VENGEANCE!” “He’s getting restless, princess!” one of the unicorns called out, receiving Celestia’s assistance with another bubble shield layer overlapping without a single moment of hesitation. Her warm golden aura replacing the orange rage of the creature’s blaze. Feeling the strength of the flames, Celestia clenched her teeth. It felt as if her horn was on fire. “You’re not getting out on our watch,” she spoke out. “Shining.” “Yes Princess?” On cue he stood, his horn glowing at the ready. “Please assist us with conjuring a more powerful prison that won’t require constant magical energy, you too Luna.” “I won’t take too long, dear,” the captain of the guard said, kissing his wife on the cheek. Lucian spun the guns before placing them on the table. “Fine, but remember, I told ya so.” He watched as both princesses, Shining Armour and four elite unicorn guards left the room. As he saw Brand leave his sight, the purifier could swear he saw Brand grinning. Braum placed a mighty hand on his friend’s shoulder. “Don’t worry, surely Brand is easier to handle than that monster with spiked mace.” Little Arrow shuddered with a snort in agreement. “Maybe you’re right…” Sighing, Lucian sat back down. Taking a moment to let the mood settle, he turned to Cadence and asked, “So apparently royalty can marry to who they choose?” “Well, of course.” Cadence replied with a smile. “Love should not be limited by one’s class or rank in society, not since a fateful romance between a royal and commoner moved the hearts of millions. You see, back when Equestria was founded, earth ponies, unicorns and pegasi still had unease between each other. Of course unicorns were considered nobles and royalty, excelling in all things magical and thus being the most educated in the past society. Unfortunately through the years they grew arrogant, self obsessed and generally unpleasant to be around.” “Sounds like Piltover…” Lucian mumbled. She arched an eyebrow. “Piltover?” “City full of bigshots, sorry, please continue.” “Oh, right! Well a single unicorn by the name of Willow who wanted to get in touch with all other groups ventured out into the world to understand the agriculture of earth ponies and the military discipline pegasi were known for, though her journey was mostly spent alone. Willow eventually arrived at a small town called Barrow Creek, full of earth ponies who avoided her line of site like she was the plague itself. One stallion though, a town guide by the name of Compass Needle stepped up and offered her assistance much to her delight. He was courteous, kind and had his own quirks that Willow found charming. Unfortunately to the other unicorns who heard news of her travels, Compass was seen as a barbarian and sadly he was incarcerated for ‘harassment of royalty’ when she wanted him to visit her family. On the day of his sentencing, the princess ruling at the time came herself then promptly scolded the jury and court. In her own words, she set expectation for all ponies because of that romance. ‘Equestria is a land of equality for all creatures, if we were to shun another because of our own selfish distaste of differences it would go against everything Smart Cookie, Clover the Clever and Private Pansy stood for.’” Braum sniffed, wiping a manly tear before it could reach his moustache. “Romance of the young, history of equality… reminds me of fairy tales mother always told me.” Lucian patted his back. “There there. So it’s those very ideals that let you welcome us despite our appearances?” “Of course,” Cadence replied with a nod. “By the way, Twilight Sparkle, my sister-in-law sent Celestia a letter regarding the whereabouts of your other friends.” “Well that’s a relief, how many?” “I think three.” “The whole team shall reunite soon!” the strongman let out another hearty laugh. “Hopefully Tryndamere didn’t cause too much trouble.” Lucian shrugged. “Wait… why didn’t Celestia mention this at the table?” “Believe me, she wanted to until the issue of this flaming creature came up. We’ve actually did some research on the biology of it, the physical body is apparently long deceased and only being kept together by the magical entity controlling it. If it was removed the body would crumble to ashes.” Cadence shuddered at the thought of an innocent pony being the host to such a monster. “The only problem is actually sealing it away permanently.” “Only true ice can seal that, thought it’s real hard to even come across.” “Well I’m sure we might find something of that description, by the way I should mention that there have been a string of murders around Canterlot lately. The targets being well-known diplomats who assist in alliances between Yakyakistan and the Changeling Empire and Griffonstone, would you know anything about that?” she asked. Braum rubbed his chin, deep in thought. “Maybe Jhin.” “In any case, our finest police forces have been on the hunt, he shouldn’t be too hard to dispatch of right?” “He’s a slippery weasel, he may be easy to lock down but he’s hard to keep down,” Lucian clarified. Deep in the bowels of Canterlot, a syndicate of elitist unicorns gathered around a table. The room was small and lit only by an oil lantern held above by rope, the members surrounding obscured in the darkness save for their muzzles underneath their cloaks. The leader wearing a bright white cloak spoke, “Welcome fellow members, were you followed?” They all shook their heads. “Good, lately our plans have been going well, tensions between kingdoms are at an all time high thanks to our newest member-“ “I would hardly call myself a member, I only took part in this little operation to perfect my art,” Jhin’s ghastly voice echoed through the room as he stepped into view. “Your political follies mean nothing to me.” The leader gulped. “O-Of course.” He cleared his throat. “With tensions so high, the drop of a needle would unleash the greatest of wars Equestria has and will ever see. This is why I have gathered you all for this important meeting, Jhin, with your excellence in assassinations we have decided on four prime targets for you. The first will be Prince Ruterford, Gilda, Queen Chrysalis and finally… Princess Celestia herself.” The room broke out into murmurs of agreement, the leader sat waiting for the chattering to calm down. Before he would begin, Jhin finally erupted into a haunting cackle. “Brilliant! Brilliant! Royalty, the greatest canvas of all.” Bringing out his four shot revolver he inspected the bullets inside before snapping it shut. “And four bullets to match my targets, you’re too kind.” “Are you sure you can handle such a task?” Jhin chuckled, heading to the door. “Of course, I would never pass up the chance to create such art. Thank you for the opportunity, Prince Blueblood.” His laughing intensified through the door once it closed, sending shivers up all member’s spines.