The Fall: 26. Acceptance (Impotence)

Acceptance (Impotence)

-What are you doing here? -said Yasuo. He could trust no one; he never knew if who he met was just another assassin sent to get rid of his existence.

-Ask her. -said the blonde man, pointing at the girl that was at his side.- I just follow orders.

-What was happening here... -timidly whispered the blonde girl- My name's Anyssa. -said a bit louder, with a shy smile on her face.

-I'm Ezreal.

-A name is not something I give so lightly. -answered Yasuo.- What are you doing here?

While waiting for an answer, Yasuo smoothly moved his hand towards his sword. A huge surprise it was when he found out that there was no blade to be wielded.

-Are you looking for this? -said Anyssa, holding his sword on her hands.- Here you have it!

Suddenly, the blade was whirling in the air; she had thrown it towards the mist-covered water. Yasuo could see how the sword would be lost and, with it, his purpose to keep on living.

-What's your name? -repeated the girl.

-Yasuo! -said the Ionian outcast while dashing towards her, fist ready to hit.

-Good to meet you. -said Ezreal with a smile on his face, his fist in contact with Yasuo's and the sword on the other hand.- Here it is. -said while hanging the blade to him.- You're coming with us, right?

Who were these people? Yasuo had no idea. But they could have definitely killed him if they had wanted to. Now he had no chance but to follow them; he knew they were powerful, and he was too tired to try to overcome such a duo.

...

While going back to her mime's place, LeBlanc smiled. She had found the man she was looking for. Ezreal had stopped Yasuo from hitting her without hesitation, and that made her feel as she had never felt before.

-Ain't it strange to feel protected? -said LeBlanc to herself.

The Piltover blondie was definitely the right choice, and the new Ionian addition was definitely what she was looking for. They would be useful. Maybe they would be able to stop this nonsense. Now she only needed the Demacian guy.

...

Luckily, the mines had recently been used to escape. Yes, the path was crowded with the beasts that the so-called "Demacian justice" had casted outside of their city-state, but at least he was able to walk his way out by running and shooting.

The dark of the caves was only fought by the lights of his pistol and Senna's, that were shooting the life out of every being that dared reach his sight. Still, he felt as if he knew the path. As weird as it sounded, it was as if the lustruous stones were guiding him through the dark cave.

...

-We're leaving someone behind.- said Taric.

-Galio will reach us when it's time.- roared shyvana, that was rampagin through the forest, clearing his way towards Bandle City.

-I don't mean him. -answered Taric.- We need to turn back.

-Look at the yordle, Gem Knight.- said Shyvana with a peremptory voice.- The man that's late can wait.

With unease, Taric accepted the half-dragon's words. No one should be left behind in days like these. Specially if it was the man he thought it was all about.

The Fall: 25. The Conflagration

The Conflagration

LeBlanc's mimicked version was still with the Ionian outcast and Ezreal, but she had separated from them hours ago.

-Why now? -asked the Ziraeth.

-We just follow the call. -answered Hecarim.- When we're given orders we follow them. When there's war, there's death, and with death the Shadow Isles grow.

-What war? -asked LeBlanc, more curious after every word the Shadow of War pronounced.

-That's none of my concern. -pointed out Hecarim while still rampaging through what was left of the poor side of Bilgewater.- If we're called to war, we go. It's our fate, our duty.

Suddenly, a greenish light hit Hecarim, and his eyes glowed familiarly.

-It's all about Thresh, right? -spitted LeBlanc.

-It's something bigger than you, Ziraeth. -answered a voice through the monster's mouth.- Some things are better kept away from those close to us. At least that's what he said.

-Shut up and answer my question! -shouted LeBlanc.

But there was no answer; Rampaging through what was left, Hecarim had abandoned the place, accompanied by an army of undead spirits that would make sure nothing could stop him. She could still hear Thresh's laugh at the cells he had been confined.

Maybe he had had a reason for trying to kill her. Ans maybe he still had it.

...

Hours had passed since Malcolm had realized that he was alive when he shouldn't and Swain had told him that Aalcox was awaken. It didn't take him long to realize that Aalcox was nervously screaming as he had never heard a Darkin do, and it was taking way longer to shut him up.

-What's wrong with you?! -shouted Malcolm.

-Find the girl and wipe away the risks! -screamed Aalcox in Malcolm's mind.

-Which girl? -whispered Malcolm while struggling to keep his composure.

-KILL THE KING'S SISTER! -screamed Aalcox; now even Swain heard it.

-Which king? -asked Swain with a peremptory voice.

His voice was enough to calm Aalcox down.

-The Demacian king. His sister...

-She died years ago. -pointed out Swain.

-Not really... -said Malcolm with a smile on his face.- She's not dead  at all...

...

-You don't look like a worthy recipient.

-Who are you?! -shouted Astor. He didn't know where the voice came from; he was lying on the ground, covered by plants. Those yellow little beings were still hanging around him, now moving nervously in circles.

-That's none of your concern now. -answered the voice.- Just do as I tell you and I will give you a less painful death than I want to right now.

It had been long since Astor had left words like those unanswered, but that was the first time that he didn't know who he was talking to. For the Void's sake! He didn't even know WHAT he was talking to.

-Just bring me where I want to go. -said the voice, now calmer.- Then I'll make you free of the agony of living.

And it would still be long before he ever let anyone fool him.

-I think you don't realize who you're talking to. -confidently said Astor, before agonizingly screaming and bending in pain.

He was going through such an agony that he didn't even realize that the little yellow fellows were gone. But they weren't leaving for long...

...

-They escaped. -answered Garen from the throne that had once been of his old friend and king Jarvan Lightshield the fourth of his name.

-I guess they are being hunted down like the filthy scum they are... -answered Darius.

-They got into the forest. -replied Garen.

-Oh, and I guess that your scouts can't follow a track when it takes a little effort, right?

-You're not understanding a single word of mine. -said Garen while taking a map that was hanging on the wall and throwing it on the floor in front of Darius.- They got into the Forest.-said Garen again.

-I'll bring you enough men to cut that forest down tree by tree. -said the hand of Noxus.- and then we will raze Bandle City to the ashes.

...

The small yordle-like creature transformed in the blink of an eye; a huge bloodthristy beast was now between them and a voidborn abomination that had suddenly appeared. And some seconds later, another monster was jumping from a bush nearby; the ferocious feline-like beast was on the voidborn beast in a second. Shyvana could see how they fought each other with an innate hate that scared the soul out of her.

-You're leaving. -said Galio, turning towards the 3 huge beasts that were fighting besides them.

-And you're coming with us! -screamed Shyvana.- We won't leave you behind!

-FLY, YOU FOOLS! - roared the white feline beast while holding the Voidborn on the floor.- NOW, OR I SWEAR I'LL CUT YOU DOWN TO PIECES AFTER FINISHING HIM!

-Leave.- said again Galio while walking towards the battle.- I'll catch up to you.

-But...

-Do it. -ordered Galio.- Reach Bandle City, tell them what's about to come and live. I'll catch up to you.

Without looking back, Shyvana carried Poppy, Taric and Sona on her back and left the place. A blazing path showed him where they were going, but Gnar, Rengar and Kha'Zix were way more important now than a path to follor.

...

-Care with Gnar.-shouted Rengar.

It took long for Galio to realize that the beast was talking to him. Shortly after, the so-called Gnar jumped on him.

-Do not hurt him! -roared the white fiery beast.- He'll calm down in a while! Just leave!

-I'll help you.

-YOU WON'T! -said Rengar throwing a bola to Galio's feet.

Only then the hunter realized his mistake. A gust hit both Kha'Zix and him, who ended one on each other's side laying in the floor. Suddenly, Galio shot a blast and both monsters laid on the ground crippled.

-How'd you dare... -angrily whispered Rengar before disappearing.

Without hesitation, Galio started to shine as he had done only in the most dangerous of times. Gnar, now small again, was throwing rocks at him. The voidborn creature woke up and slowly walked towards him, trying to hurt him in a desperate try of getting something out of the fight.

And then he heard his voice.

The Fall: 24. Rewinding

Rewinding

Jayce was amazed by the miraculaous invention he had been given; it had taken quite a lot of time, and because of him working on Ezreal's artifact he had left it aside. If he had only known what this was before starting to work on it...

"Fix it." had said Vi. Jayce didn't know what it was or who owned it, but Vi's orders were clear. She would never get used to him being Piltover's Major, but he never cared about it. But the mystery surrounding the techmaturgical invention that he had been working at for some days still haunted him. Even when sleeping he'd be dreaming about that thing they had rescued from Zaun. And that made him think of Zaun in a different way.

What if they had cooperated? What if Zaun and Piltover had worked together for a better world? What if they had ended, not only with Viktor, Dr. Mundo and similars, but with a lot of other scientists that were hidden geniuses in the sea of crime and lack of ethics Zaun had been?

That's how he got tired of waiting. He needed to know what was the name of the artifact; he needed to meet the genius that had invented it.

...

-Calm enough to come now kid? -asked Vi.

-Sure. -answered Ekko, spitting on the floor.

Vi opened the cell's door and untied Ekko's hands with a swift move.

-Don't you dare trick me Ekko. -pointed out Vi.- I already know most of your moves.

That sentence hit him deeply in the heart. 'She remembers.' thought Ekko. Vi had not forgotten them. What might she remember? What had she gone through to end up that way? Would she help her get Zaun back to its deserved glory?

-Vi... may I ask you something? -asked Ekko.

-You mean asking me one more thing? -said Vi.

-What happened Vi?

-I can't remember a single detail. -answered Vi.

-Don't you know who I am?

-Of course I do. I remember my past. -said Vi, clearly annoyed.- What I can't remember are the days after the accident.

The Fall: 23. Iterations

Iterations

Mine, None and the Children were together once again, but not in the way they had wanted the meeting to be. Mine's body had been torn apart, her head crushed by None who had walked onto it without even caring while tearing down the children. And there was nothing he could do.

Ekko needed to fix the Z-Drive and know how Mine and the children had reached him. He had to stop them from coming. Yes, it would all be fixed. But he would have to go through that scene way too many times. Some people can't think of something worst than losing their loved ones. Well, most of them have never lost anyone more than once; that was why they didn't understand the horrors that Ekko had been through; the ones he was about to face. He would try with six minutes first.

...

Ekko stopped once he heard those voices.

-The shimmer didn't work as expected Singed. -he could hear Viktor say.- These beasts couldn't stop an organized army like the on of Piltover.

They had to be close; where were Vi and the oher Piltie? The pair had come from the same street than him, entering once he had backed up after facing Viktor. He looked at the street he had been running through; there was nothing in front of him. He was still looking for something when a wall close to him bursted.

-BOOM, BABY! -shouted Vi.

Again, dust covered everything. Now he knew where Vi came from. Her friend had to be close but, where were the children? When the dust faded out he saw Vi holding Viktor up in the air. Ekko still found it strange that she didn't recognize who he was. Didn't she?

-What are you waiting for? Singed won't take long to wake up, finish this now Jayce. -said Vi.

So that was the name of the man with a scared look on his face. The face of a man about to do something he doesn't want to. His cannon transformed into a hammer while Jayce prepared himself for the hit while walking towards them. And then Viktor died. It took him some seconds to remeber about singed, but once he did he already knew what to do.

Ekko dashed through the dust cloud remebering where Singed would be. A flask flew towards him, but he expected something from there. A quick slash and everything would be easily solvable. But then he realized that the air was heavier after every breath he took; it had to be Singed's poison. He would have to start again. The Z-drive's light illuminated the last few seconds of that possible outcome.

...

Heavily breathing, Ekko doubted if that was the right moment to appear.

-What are you waiting for? Singed won't take long to wake up, finish this now Jayce. -said Vi.

He had to stop the dust-cloud from foring in order to be able to chase Singed. He still remembered VIII's words when they were younger; "Never chase Singed." he had said. "He will only lead you to your demise.". In the instant that he heard Jayce's hammer hit Viktor's hex-core he activated the Z-drive's converger; now Jayce, Viktor and Vi would be affecting a parallel timeline for a while.

The activation of the Z-drive's phaser was enough for him to get to Singed; a quick slash took the flask out of his hand and a second one locked the poison dispenser; there was no way it could go wrong now.

But Singed's eyes shined specially bright; his insane look was cleaving through Ekko's mind while the scientist's right hand crushed a small empty bottle. The mad chemist started to run through a corridor that seconds before hadn't been there; Mine. ashamed, was hiding after what had been a secret door. When Singed was passing through it he flinged her, falling onto Ekko and breaking into little pieces the recently fixed Z-drive.

There was no time for words, and there was no way of getting some of it. Mine's tears fell one by one onto Ekko's right hand, which was resting in the floor under her friend's body. He wanted to tell her that he would forgive her, Ekko knew there had to be an explanation for that. But they never got to talk again.

None grabbed Mine and rose her up, destroying the building by crashing her body against every stone at his reach. Now it was Mine's blood that covered Ekko's hands. His hands, those who had failed to protect their loved ones; not once, but thrice.

And hands were the last thing that Ekko saw. A pair of huge mechanical hands that were carrying him away of the place while he fell unconscious.

The Fall: 22. Echoes

Echoes

-Fancy meeting the boss, kid? -said the woman that had once been his childhood friend with an irritating tone.

-Sure, I guess that you Pilties can't get a job done without that overseer's hand telling you to do so. -said Ekko again.

Just as he expected, his face was punched into the wall. He had already gone through this way too many times. Always trying to find a way to fix what had happened in Zaun.

...

The city was a living chaos, now more than ever.

Viktor had died, but the Pilties hadn't had enough. They would raze the whole place, and the kids would go down with it. That is, unless he did something.

Of the original twelve, only three remained; but while the years passed by, a place like Zaun always gave birth to more orphans and those scared children always needed their help. Ekko and Mine had been bringing the orphans from Zaun in turns, always taking care of them while living hidden in the outskirts of Piltover. None was the one in charge of finding them out and contacting both Ekko and Mine, but that ended with the last few battles.

The sky looked different the day they received None's last letter.

...

From I,

IX and XII, XXXI and XXXIV are bringing you my last piece of writing.

Chaos reigns in Zaun; Viktor has manipulated the government itself and we're being forced into the military. Every single soul is forced into it; women, children, even the elders. It is said that Singed's latest modification of Shimmer is being tested on those who don't look strong enough to fight. I guess that you understand why this will surely be my last letter for you, friends.

Don't forget what we've been fighting for. This is not the Zaun we praised, Viktor is not the herald that was supposed to make our lives better. The corruption that has taken control of our homeland does not represent the lifestyle we defend. That's why I need to ask you one last thing.

Keep Zaun alive. This war is already lost, Zaun has self-destructed itself and ruined its own roots. Broken-hearted, I can only tell you to let this place fall, and bring Zaun to Piltover. Teach our ways to those Pilties, make them realize that we were right. Show them that we're not their enemies, but their rivals instead. The children you're taking care of are the future of Zaun, make sure that you don't forget that.

With best regards,

None

...

His footspets echoed thorugh the empty streets of Zaun. Ekko ran as fast as he had ever done it, rushing through corpses and ruins. Not even then he realized what None had meant; Zaun had already killed itself, but that meant nothing to Ekko. The mural, their hideout, their past. The place where the original twelve had met for the first time. I's ability to be ignored when he wanted to go unnoticed, II's handcrafting techniques concerning techmaturgy, III's thirst for vengeance, IV's lack of purpose, V's way of being trusted by everyone, VI's irritating voice, VII's innocence and goggles, VIII's illness,  IX's egoism and self-centered hate, X's pigtails, XI's plan. He was XII. He was the one with the dream.

And that dream had't died out, not even after being witness of what was happening to their homeland. While running he started to hear voices; loud as they were, it was difficult to understand them. Still, he managed to notice Viktor's tone on that voice. The one to blame's words were as irritating as they had been the day that half the crew was lost. Back when Viktor was known as VIII, he had been the one to force them back, leaving II, III, V, VI and VII to rot down in Zaun's underground mazes. And he was now the one that would let the rest of them dying for a cause that no one defended but him.

-The shimmer didn't work as expected Singed. -he could hear Viktor say.- These beasts couldn't stop an organized army like the on of Piltover.

-Did you really expect them to do so? -asked Singed.- I already told you that the only thing they'd bring would be chaos.

-You should have explained yourself better.

-I already explaioned myself better when we tried it out with your old orphan friend, and here you have the results.

Only then Ekko realized; the screams of agony, mixed with moans and deep groans that could be heard over their conversation. He needed to know what had happened to None; with nothing to stop him from doing so, he slightly moved towards the alley. Once he saw what was there, he wished he had never left None alone at Zaun.

-This guy and Dr. Mundo's experiments are nearly the same. -said Singed while his finger pointed towards None's last remnants.

-Whatever, leave them to rot now. -ordered Viktor.- We'll get to the old lab, subjects III and VII are our only hopes in this war. I'll tell Twice that we're on our way, You'd better get going.

-What should we do about him? -asked Singed, feeling bad for what had been a poor, scared boy.

-Free him. He'll be a decent distraction.

In a split second, Ekko was in front of Viktor. Half an instant before that, Ekko was back at his position. It had been less than a second, but he had stared at his face. Had he noticed? What had he meant with "subjects III and VII"? Ekko couldn't tell. And he didn't have time to find out.

-BOOM, BABY! -shouted an irritating female voice from the darks.

Suddenly, dust covered everything. He could feel the presence of two more people around, and the consumed energy could be felt in the air. The voice had been familiar to him, but he couldn't tell only by that.

-Got him Jayce! -shouted the same voice again.

Then he realized. It was VI.

When the dust faded out he saw them both. VI was holding Viktor up in the air with a single hand, her gauntlet covering all of the Viktor's trunk. Does she realize who he was?

-What are you waiting for? -asked VI to her companion. -Singed won't take long to wake up, finish this now Jayce.

The man had a scary look on his face. Ekko knew that VI's companion found no pleasure in doing what he was going to do, but the boy could see in that man's eyes that he knew he had to. Shocked, he witnessed how his cannon suddenly transformed into a hammer, and the man accomodated it in his hands for it to fit a correct position. And then VI's companion smashed Viktor while she held him up.

Another cloud of dust rose, and this one took longer to fade out; when it did, nearly nothing had changed. VI's body was laying in the floor near a wall, but she was fine. Her gauntlets had small remains of blood and flesh, and the place was covered with the remnants of what had once been a half-human half-machine person. 'Rest in piece, VIII.' thought Ekko. It took him long to realize what was truly happenind. Singed had covered it all with some kind of adhesive, and both VI and her Piltie friend were stuck on it.

-Are you Ok Vi? -asked the man, unable to see her because they were stuck in opposite directions.

-I always am boss! -answered VI.

Had she kept her name? If so, did she remember anything at all about their shared past?

A falling wall caught Ekko's attention. None's moans were louder than ever, and the stones that had once held him back were now falling to pieces. One of them fell infront of him, and only then he realized where he was; he had failed to defend the mural. Luckily, he always had another chance. He was called Ekko for a reason.

But luck was not with him that day. His Z-drive had been hit by a piece of the mural, making it useless. He had failed to defend those he had loved, and he had failed to keep their memorial through the years. Then he heard the screams.

Vi's ally was shouting the void out in pain while what had once been None was crushing his arm. The hammer, probably pulverized by the hulk that None now was, was nowhere to be seen. But Vi was still fine.

Avoiding the zones where Singed's adhesive covered the floor, Ekko got to Vi and freed her without a word. He carried her towards the inner side of the mural, what had once been their home, and walked towards None. That was when he saw Mine with the children and he realized that he had fucked it all up.

A scream drowned in chaos while Zaun  burned down to ashes.







_________________________________________________________________________________
Special thanks to /u/Xecelee and his post in Reddit's /r/leagueoflegends for making my investigation job about Ekko way easier than it would have been.

The Fall: 21. Consume and adapt

Consume and adapt

-We found them. -whispered Taric to Sona. -What's that thing you're holding?

She hadn't realized; her etwahl was at her hands; again, the instrument managed to find itself in her hands no matter what the fate might place between them. Calmly, Sona started to play her music. The whole woods felt different, more alive than any other forest had ever been. Song of celerity.

-I see. That'll be helpful. - said the gem knight while pointing at a wounded yordle that laid in the floor besides Shyvana and Galio.

...

The little creature jumped off of Galio's head and started walking towards two people that were coming towards them; after a while, Shyvana recognized Sona and Taric. Without hesitation, she carried Poppy towards them as carefully as she could.

-Taric! Sona! It's so good to find you here! -said Shyvana.- We couldn't wait you at the meeting point; we were being chased, and the woods were the only place where the Demacian rangers wouldn't have followed us.

-She needs to be treated. -urged Taric, pointing at Poppy's hand- Sona might have a way of helping her better than I; my power is not enough in such a situation.

-If something has to be done, she needs it to be done now. -said Galio with a deep voice- There's not much time left.

...

Sona nodded her head while playing her etwahl. She had missed it so much; she had felt weak without it, and she had felt unable to explain herself. Yes, Taric was sympathetic and he usually knew what she needed, but even gems and Taric's empathy had their limits.

She could feel how everyone calmed down while she played her music. Aria of Perseverance.

...

Rengar could see how the yordle's bleeding arm quickly turned into a stump that looked as good as an injure like that could. That kind of magic still fascinated him; to fight an enemy with such a power would have been a great honor for him, and the musical instrument would look great as a trophy.

But Rengar needed to focus. Where was Kha'Zix?

...

Gnar could feel something strange in the air. He could feel the friendlyness of the humans; the gargoyle and the yordle were no threat to him. Also, kitten was looking at him from the trees. But there was something more, and that unexpected presence made him angry.

Gnar was angry, and not seeing where the unexpected presence was bugged him even more than usual. Gnar was angry. Gnar was really angry.

-GNAAAAAAAAAR!

...

Rengar saw it all happen.

Kha'Zix had jumped onto the two humans that were healing the yordle while the gargoyle and the half-dragon talked aside, but his leap had been interrupted by Gnar's hand.

The voidborn abomination had landed on a tree in an awkward position, but Kha'Zix wouldn't stop after that. Rengar knew that the annoying bug wanted him to go in; it was a competition, nothing but a show for him now. And Rengar commited to it.

The Fall: 20. Into The Woods

Into The Woods

Sona felt as if weeks had passed away while they were escaping Demacia through the old mines. The moment in which Taric's opals started to disappear and the sun bathed her bare shoulders she felt as if it was one of the best days of her life.

-It's been a whole week. Shyvana and them should be around here. -said Taric, looking at her eyes while he softly passed his hands through his hammer's sides.- We were supposed to meet right here.

Sona would have been nervous if it had been another person the one that talked those words. But the way Taric did it, even if she knew that he was not comfortable with the situation, only transmitted peace. Taric's presence made her feel as if everything was alright. Suddenly, Sona noted how Taric was silently calling her.

When she got closer she realized that Taric was pointing at something in the floor; a blood trail went into the woods.

-It's recent. -whispered Taric.

Without a single word, Taric started to walk, diving deep into the woods, following the fresh blood that laid drying in the groud.

...

Why was Gnar so excited? Didn't he realize what they meant?

Rengar had discovered Gnar the wrong way; he had thought of the little creature as a prey, only to discover himself closed in a cave against a real monster. That nearly costed him the other eye.

The presence of that Gargoyle and the Half-Dragon in the forest was unusual; the fact that they were carrying a handless yordle was even stranger. And when something strange happenned in the forest, Kha'Zix knew about it. Kha'Zix was always around, lurking, waiting for something that could distract Rengar; then he would go into a messy battle that usually ended with both of them hurt and the third party torn to pieces.

But it would be different now. Rengar and Gnar together had managed to protect all those simple beings that wandered hopelessly into the forest. Sometimes he still missed the days when he would be the one hunting these creatures; he knew that the half-dragon's head would look great in his belt. But the appearance of both Gnar and Kha'Zix had changed it all. Kha'Zix taught him to focus in one prey at a time. Gnar taught him to expect the unexpected, and to be respectful with those who look weaker thank you. The little creature had also taught him how hollow and alone both had been before meeting each other.

-¡Demagliaaaaa! -shouted Gnar, while jumping onto the Gargoyle's head.

His little Gnar was always curious, always happy and always in trouble. His little friend Gnar had always been like that; at least since Rengar knew him.

...

At first, Shyvana had feared that the little creature attacked Poppy; yes, they could just take it down, but they needn't risk calling the attention. The woods were still way too close to Demacia, Quinn and Vayne wouldn't take long to discover their track and follow them wherever they went. 'Even if they didn't want to...' thought the half-dragon.

The loss of the king, Jarvan the IV, had been a horrible strike for Demacia as a whole, but those closer to him had suffered it more. 'Nothing more than ashes.' had said Garen, before jumping at her sword in hand. Her beloved king, Garen's best friend and Demacia's strangest ruler.

Jarvan's death was something that would haunt them all for a long time; Shyvana knew that she'd be lucky if she got to die without remembering his smile.