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Fandom: League of Legends
AU: Star Guardians
Summary: Having already fallen and corrupted, there's really nothing else Xayah could lose. Except one. She strikes a deal with Zoe to salvage what's left dear to her: Rakan.
[AO3]
Word count: 1,175
“A deal?” Zoe exclaims with mock surprise. She twists through the air to swim to Xayah, approaching uncomfortably close. Her mismatched eyes seem to maliciously glimmer as she stares at Xayah upside down. “It better be a fun deal or I won’t be interested!”
Xayah’s eyes narrow in disgust at the child’s taunt. For a moment, she thinks it’s a bad idea. No, she knows it’s a bad idea. But the image of Rakan—her beloved, beloved Rakan—bubbles up in her mind, forcing her former notion deep down into the darkness.
She was never one to swallow her pride for anything. Ever. But…
“This is already getting boring. Either you spit it out, or I go on my way,” Zoe says flatly, turning to leave.
“Wait.” Xayah stops her in her tracks, but Zoe doesn’t turn back around. “It’s about Rakan.”
At the name, Zoe wheels back around and shoots up to Xayah’s face with an expression of interest. Maybe a little too much interest. “Oh, you mean your boyfriend? Yeah, what’s up with him?”
Xayah makes a quiet disgruntled sound before opening her mouth to say what’s on her mind. She averts her gaze to avoid Zoe’s unblinking eyes. “I want you to spare Rakan.” Not hearing Zoe respond, she continues, “If you spare Rakan from falling further, I’ll do whatever you want me to do.” Her hand that was already balled into a fist grips tighter, blood trickling down from her nails digging into her palm.
“And why would I do that, hm?” Zoe finally asks after what seems like an eternity of silence. “Having two guardians instead of one sounds a lot more appealing and useful, don’t you think?” She closes her eyes as she waves her hand in dismissal. “You’re gonna have to give me something better than that, Xayah.”
“Who said anything about letting go of him?” Xayah immediately responds. “Don’t think I’m willing to let go of Rakan either.”
Zoe smiles wider as her eyes snap open towards her in interest again. “I’m listening…”
“You’re not going to corrupt Rakan any more than this.” Xayah takes a deep breath. “Like I said, I’ll do whatever you want. Even if it means corrupting me completely and dragging me into your side. But you must never tell Rakan about this.”
“Aw,” Zoe squeals, “now that’s what I call true love.” She twists onto her back as if she’s laying on a couch. “But you realize if you’re completely corrupted, Rakan will still follow you, right? If anything, he’ll also end up corrupting himself because of it.” She smirks when Xayah falls silent. “Don’t you know what happens once you’ve completely turned? You’re on your own. You don’t care about anything else. All you want is chaos, to destroy everything and anything the First Star created. Rakan? You probably won’t even remember him or care about him anymore.” She starts to hum as she playfully counts the stars in the sky above.
Despair. Hope. Combined together, that is all she needs to begin the corruption of a star guardian. As long as one has hope, it would turn into despair that would silent creep into their hearts. And the more hope there is, the deeper the fall into despair. Zoe has seen it shatter star guardians countless times.
Xayah was all too easy. All Zoe needed to do was prey on the vague idea of being abandoned by her own teammates to save themselves, leaving Xayah all alone to fall. Rakan, on the other hand, was the last person she expected to fall. But then again, watching his lover die must’ve been what sent him over the edge. That was enough to corrupt him as well.
“Do we have a deal?” Xayah suddenly asks, loud enough to pierce Zoe’s hums.
Zoe’s smile turns into a frown, her tune trailing into silence. She turns back to face Xayah, now upright in the air. “So I stop corrupting your boyfriend, and I have you all to myself. Is that it?” She scoffs when Xayah growls at her in discontent. “Okay, fine, fine. I will stop corrupting Rakan. In exchange, you will do what I want—even if it means corrupting you completely to my side. Also, I won’t tell him of our little conversation.”
“Do we have a deal?” Xayah repeats.
“Ah, ah, ah! Not yet!” Zoe taps a finger against her chin. “If you fail , I will corrupt you both and watch you shatter like all the other star guardians I’ve hunted down.” Her face darkens into black like the abyss, only a golden orb for her right eye and a white void for her mouth remaining. “I didn’t resurrect you for nothing, you know. But you’re just as disposable as any other star guardian I can get my hands on. One snap, and poof! You’re gone!” She begins to giggle as if she heard a wonderful joke.
Her voice is chilling, and it reverberates as if the entire universe is speaking with her voice in its own tones.
“Do we have a deal or not?” Xayah asks again, a little frustrated this time. She takes another breath. “Please,” she forces out.
Zoe’s face reverts back to normal. She smiles slyly, lifting Xayah’s chin up to force her to look at Zoe. “Weren’t you ever told to maintain eye contact when speaking with others?” she says. “But, since you asked so nicely, it’s a deal.” She sees Xayah’s ear twitching incessantly and giggles. “I think I’ve made you swallow your pride long enough.” She evades a swipe of Xayah’s nails and laughs. “See you!” She dives into a portal and disappears.
Xayah exhales with a hiss, her rage still pulsing through her blood from the ordeal. She tries to hold herself back, but she ends up destroying a nearby pile of rocks in frustration.
“Baby? Baby!” Rakan calls from afar. When he finds Xayah hunched over by some sliced up rocks, he rushes over to her side, thinking she’s injured. “You okay? You’re not hurt, are you?”
“No. I’m fine.” Xayah huffs. “Maybe just a little too angry.”
“Yeah, you get that way sometimes,” he says, earning a light slap on his chest. He chuckles, walking alongside Xayah on this desolate planet of rock and… whatever it is Zoe told them to come here for. “So, where to next?”
“No idea. I’m sure Zoe will tell us soon.” Xayah bites the inside of her cheek as she gazes at the starry sky. Her deal with Zoe weighs heavily on her mind, but it almost lifts a burden on her heart. Watching Rakan fall all because of her, it never left her. Even in her dreams, she sees the scenario over and over again. Unable to tell him to leave her so he could live. To save himself.
She’s willing to go through whatever Zoe tells her to.
Just as long as Rakan will be saved, maybe even freed.
Watching him fall for her sake was hell enough. Nothing can compare to that.
Fandom: League of Legends
AU: Star Guardians
Summary: Rakan approaches Zoe with a deal of his own. But he needs to improvise when Zoe shuts him down before he can say anything. .
[AO3]
Word count: 1,347
“Zoe.”
Zoe doesn’t turn, too preoccupied with juggling little stars in the palms of her hand before extinguishing their light with her powers. “I’m a little busy here, Rakan.” She hears him grunt in doubt followed by a whisper that sounds like, “Sure you are.”
“Gee, I wonder what would get ya interested in what I have to say?” Rakan asks himself mockingly. He snaps and tosses his gem up in the air like a coin. “Perhaps… a deal?” He sees Zoe’s arms freeze and smirks. Bullseye.
Zoe is frozen for another moment before groaning. “Ugh, that’s so boring! Not interested!’
Rakan’s smirk fades into a frown immediately. He was sure Zoe would fall for it. He scoffs, mocking offense at her response by posing in dramatic despair “Not interested? I’m hurt, Zoe. You won’t even give me the time of day!”
“I’ve had enough of deals. They’re all the same. Why make useless deals when I won’t have any fun?” she says. Unknown to Rakan, Zoe smiles darkly. It was a lie. Xayah was the very first star guardian she corrupted who tried to bargain with her. Once was fun enough. But a second time? Boooooring!
Damn.
If she wasn’t interested in a deal of all things, what other options were left?
Rakan chews on his thumbnail as his mind grabs at straws to salvage the situation. After all, Zoe had a tendency to disappear into a portal the moment she didn’t want to be there. He had to keep her here.
She relishes in the panic she sensed from him. He is like reading an open book. “If there’s nothing else you have to say, then leave. Can’t you see I’m busy?” she says, her expression smug though keeping her eyes in Rakan’s direction.
“Uh, no, no, no. I ain’t done yet,” Rakan immediately responds. “How about,” he pauses for dramatic effect, “a little game?”
Ah, Rakan always was full of surprises.
“Ooh, a game?” Zoe finally turns, lazily laying in the air but with a twinkle in her eye. “What kind of game we talking about here? Is it fun?”
Rakan is slightly taken aback by her sudden interest, but it doesn’t let that deter him. He stands his ground with a cocked brow. He smiles and rubs his chin thoughtfully. “The funnest game ever.”
“Ooh! Do tell, Rakan.” Zoe bats her eyes with an eerie smile. “I’m all ears!”
“Right,” Rakan drones. He clears his throat and begins to pace back and forth as if he’s explaining the best theory in all the universe. “So, the game involves you, me, and Xayah.” He glances at Zoe, who nods fervently at him to continue. “I’m sure you know the saying: ‘the universe is the apple of your heart.’”
“There are literally several things wrong with that phrase, but I guess that works too,” Zoe interrupts.
“Uh… right. Well, you get the gist.”
“Yeah, yeah! The world is my oyster, it’s the apple of my eye, blah blah blah,” she drawls. “Anyways, the game?”
“Yes! Let’s take Xayah. She’s the perfect—absolutely perfect, I love her a lot by the way—person to completely turn to your side. Strong. Determined. And drop dead gorgeous.”
“Uh-huh.”
“But here’s the thing: I don’t want that. I know what happens when you’re completely corrupted.” Rakan’s lips purse into a straight line. “I’d rather play right into your hands than see that happen.” He holds up his gem, a dull shine and a haze of darkness emanating from its center. “No matter how much you try to corrupt her, I won’t let her go over to the side of darkness.”
Oho. That took a turn Zoe didn’t expect. Rakan really was full of surprises.
“Hmm, okay. So, in other words, it’s like tug of war.”
He snaps at the word, the same goofy smile returning to his face. “Tug o’ War, you got it! You got the entire universe in the center of your heart—(“palm of my hand, Rakan”)—yeah, yeah, I got it. This should be a breeze to ya.” Zoe nods as if he has a point. “What do you think? Wanna play this little game?”
“I can! But what’s in it for me? What’s my reward if I win?”
“Uh, easy. You corrupt both of us and do what you want with us. You can shatter us, use us to destroy more star guardians, or make us your personal servants if you’re into that.”
“Very nice. I like the way you think.”
“But if I win,” Rakan says, “Xayah is free.”
“That’s it?”
“That’s it.”
Zoe leans back in thought, but it doesn’t take her long to perk back up with a mysterious and strange smile. “Sure, Rakan. We can play this little game of yours. It sounds super fun!” Her lips then pull back into an ominous grin. “I can’t wait to see what kind of moves you’ll pull to win,” she coos as she taps his nose with her finger.
“Pinky promise?” Rakan suddenly asks, holding up his pinky finger.
“What?” Zoe looks at his hand in mild bewilderment.
“You gotta promise me you’ll play with me.”
Zoe rolls her eyes. “I’m not a kid. I’m older than you.” Though she says, she wraps her own pinky finger around Rakan’s. “But sure!” Once they make the promise, she stretches her back as if she was sitting for forever. “Anyways, this was fun. But we’re going back to work.”
Rakan narrows his eyes in suspicion. “What’s next?”
There’s a glint in her right eye as she giggles. She looks beyond the stars, and Rakan knows she can see the exact location. “I finally found the little lizard I’ve been searching for all these months.”
Neeko.
Rakan’s breath almost catches in his throat, but he suppresses the reaction so Zoe doesn’t notice. He cracks a dark smile and follows Zoe’s gaze. “So, it’s finally time.”
“Get Xayah. We got a lizard to catch.” Zoe disappears into a portal, presumably to go ahead and set some traps.
As soon as Zoe leaves, Rakan huffs, stretching his back and cracking his neck. “Alright, here we go, Rakan. Gotta pump yourself up!” He whips around to go get Xayah but yelps when he sees her standing before him. “ XA- yah! Babe, don’t scare me like that.”
“Anything from Zoe?” Xayah asks. She seems jittery, impatient. She must sense it: Neeko’s presence.
Rakan hesitates for a moment. “Uh, yeah! She finally found that slinking lizard.”
Xayah’s face darkens, her hand balling into fists. “She hid while she watched us die, and she didn’t even do anything to save us.” Xayah grits her teeth and unsheathes her feather quills from her hand. She starts to shake from pure rage. “Well? What are we waiting for?”
“Babe, calm down. Zoe will send us the portal soon.”
“Calm down?! After what Neeko did to us? Ahri? Sarah?” Xayah shouts. “They abandoned us! They left us to die . They...” It hurts Rakan to see Xayah being consumed by the lies that took root within her. But he senses her hesitation when she trails off. Even she has her doubts too, doesn’t she?
“Hey Xayah.” She doesn’t respond. “Xayah?”
Xayah shuts her eyes as she’s brought back to reality. “What? Did you say something?”
Before Rakan can answer, Zoe’s portal opens up before them as if it is waiting for them. Time to go. He smiles sadly at Xayah, though she doesn't notice, and pats her head. “Never mind. We should go. Ready?”
“Ready as I’ll ever be.” Xayah runs ahead, Rakan following closely behind.
Rakan stares at Xayah’s back and holds onto his star tightly. Zoe’s taunts echoes in his mind. He knows she has doubts of his victory, but there are plenty of tricks up his sleeve she doesn’t know about. That she doesn’t know he’s been doing since day one. If it means Xayah will be alive—and best case scenario, purified—he’s more than willing to sacrifice himself for her sake.
Chapter 2: The Mortal Realm
Fandom: League of Legends
Ship: Jinx/Lux
AU: Lunar Revel, Warring Kingdoms, Immortal Journey, Blood Moon
[AO3]
Word count: 4086
A figure slinks through the shadows of the kingdom, sticking to the walls and ducking under rails whenever an attendant passes by. They run across the wooden floor, a rhythm to their feet as if they’re dancing. But there’s a misstep, and a floorboard creaks. They freeze when they hear the sound of a howl nearby and breaks into a sprint, no longer minding all the creaking of the floorboards.
Around the corner just outside of the hallway, a white-maned wolf skids to a stop before continuing his pursuit. At the other end of the hallway, he sees Lux running away faster and erratically. “Get back here!” he snarls.
“Already?! How?!” Lux cries, picking up the pace. But it’s useless as Warwick catches up in seconds. She groans. “I’m sorry, Warwick!” With a swing of her wand, a golden light shoots towards the guardian and roots him in place.
“You!” he howls.
“I said I’m sorry!” Lux cries again as she gains distance from Warwick. She turns several corners to shake him off her trail. She pauses for a few seconds to catch her breath. But she knows she can’t rest for long. Warwick has the best sense of smell among anyone in the kingdom. Surely, he would find her within a minute.
One more breath, and she takes off again. Just as she’s close to exiting the outer palace, she sees the familiar dark mane of her other guardian.
Oh no.
Nasus appears from around the corner with a manuscript in hand, a scepter in the other. Without even sparing a glance, he swiftly tucks his scepter under his arm and extends his hand out to grab her by the collar.
“No!” Lux whines. “How did you know I was heading this way?!”
“You’re easy to read,” Nasus answers. He finally looks at Lux with a raised brow. “Not to mention, you’ve been trying to sneak out of the palace frequently nowadays.” He releases Lux, who slumps in defeat.
She glances at Nasus grabbing his scepter again. His scepter. Her wand. Her old wand. She doesn’t remember when it happened, but one day, Nasus had awakened his powers through her wand. Lucian must have seen it, since he’s the one who requested the wand to be crafted into a scepter. It looks completely different from what it used to look like.
Lux, in the meantime, was given a new wand. A two-sided wand with a sculpture of Nasus and Warwick on either side with a gold plating at the center of the rod. Her new wand was much lighter and easier to use, and it was still crafted at Azir’s kingdom.
“Warwick, you’re late,” he says as Warwick slides to a stop before them.
“Hey, it’s not my fault she rooted me!” he protests. “I almost caught her three times today.”
“Then you should be faster.”
Warwick rolls his eyes and scratches the back of his ear. “Yeah, yeah, at least you caught her.” He huffs in annoyance when Nasus grunts in acknowledgement. “What are you reading this time?”
Nasus shuts the manuscript and holds it up. “Names and mentions of demons.” He flips it in his hands as if he’s examining it from cover to cover. “It’s rather short, but this is all I can find.” He then sighs. “Lux, don’t think we don’t know you’re trying to sneak out again.”
Lux, who was trying to tiptoe past them, twirls around with a nervous smile. “I-I don’t know what you’re talking about. I was just, uh, thinking of heading to the training grounds!”
“You’re going the opposite way,” Warwick says, pointing at the hallway in which they came from with an expectant look. “Get going, or I drag you there with you in my teeth.” He shoots Lux a toothy grin.
She hangs her head in defeat. “Okay…” She trudges back to the inner palace with Warwick and Nasus following closely behind. She blows a stray hair strand out of her eyes.
Why wasn’t she allowed down to the mortal realm yet? All her predecessors were able to take the carriages there. Why couldn’t she ? She sighs. She was just so curious about the kind of lifestyles humans had there. Being a demigod and raised in a palace in the heavens, she can only imagine what new and fun adventures would await her.
“Lux, we know you want to visit the mortal realm. But you can barely protect yourself,” Nasus states. “What if something happens down there, and we’re not there to protect you?”
She pouts. “I know, I know… It’s just,” she pauses with a sigh of exasperation, “There’s a festival going on down there, and I want to join in on the festivities! I just want to take a peek and have some fun, even if it means I’ll be watched for every second I’m down there.” Her eyes suddenly light up, and her pace slows to a stop. “What if the three of us go? Lucian would allow it if my two guardians would come with me, right?” She bats her eyes innocently with her hands clasped together.
Warwick and Nasus exchange looks.
“No.”
Lux lies in bed, buried under her blanket and listening to the sounds of the night. Just as she thinks the silence is getting heavy, the click of her door catches her attention. Thump. Thump. Oh, it’s Warwick. She doesn’t poke her head out of the blanket. She then feels a weight by the side of her bed. Curious, she peeks out and sees Warwick’s head beside her own.
“What are you doing, Warwick?” she asks.
“Watching you,” he answers. “I can’t have you running off again.”
Her lip juts out in a pout. “Yeah, yeah, I know.” She reaches to pet his muzzle, at which his tail starts wagging happily. “Where’s Nasus?”
“In the archives.”
“Hm,” Lux hums in acknowledgement.
Though she doesn’t remember when it all started, she somewhat recalls Nasus spending more and more time in the archives when they were younger. Not to mention he became a lot more mature earlier too. She tried asking Lucian about it once, Nasus’ change being sudden and all. He only smiled and told her that he’s probably settling into his guardian duties now.
She remembers how small they used to be. They were so small, and she could carry the both of them in her arms so easily. But they grew bigger so fast, they were already towering over her by the time she turned sixteen years old. She thinks they stopped growing since then.
Probably her too. She feels like she’s been the same height.
Ah, her eyelids are getting heavier. Her hand soon relaxes atop Warwick’s head as she dozes off. Warwick patiently waits for the steady breathing before he gently nudges her hand back and pulls the covers over her. He huffs and steps out the room, sitting in front of the doors.
Soft crickets fill the room. Lux sleeps peacefully under her blanket.
Or so she pretends.
Her eye cracks open and peers around for her guardian’s presence in the room. So far, so good. But the problem is getting out without Warwick catching onto her. She turns in bed and inches closer to the other side. She freezes up when her door is slid open.
“Hmph,” Warwick grunts when he sees her sleeping figure. Guess she was just turning in her sleep. He closes the door again.
It takes her much effort to stop herself from sighing in relief. Warwick would have heard it. She quietly steps out of bed and stuffs a pillow underneath the covers. She removes her robe to reveal a casual outfit underneath. This way, it should be easier to move around in. She folds it up and places it on the floor, hidden.
She peers outside her window to make sure neither of her guardians are patrolling the back. She lifts herself up and slips out, careful not to step on any creaking floorboards. Once the coast is clear, she picks up her pace and heads towards the outer palace. It’s a little far, but it’s never stopped her.
Just as she’s about to reach the outer palace, she spots Nasus from the corner of her eye. He seems preoccupied with another manuscript from the archives. She hides behind a pillar and waits for him to pass by, holding her breath as he approaches her hiding spot. Once he walks past, she ducks and continues on.
Nasus stops and turns. Though faint, he sees Lux’s shadow crawling towards the exit of the inner palace. He rolls his eyes and sighs. He closes the manuscript and walks towards Lux’s room, where Warwick is standing guard.
“You saw her?” Warwick asks boredly.
“Mhm. She’s not that great at stealth.” Nasus lets out a loud sigh as he shakes his head. “Ready to go?”
“Whenever you are.”
They find an empty carriage in front of the outer palace. The two squeeze into the driver’s seat, a pair of reins materializing in Nasus’ hands. To drive a carriage in the heavens simply requires magic and control, which Nasus excels the best among the two.
They ride the carriage out to the gates, where a pair of guards seem to be expecting their arrival. “Good evening, Guardians,” they greet. “Chasing after Her Majesty, we assume.”
“As always,” Nasus answers calmly. “Even if she decides to go alone, we must fulfill our duty as guardians to protect her from the shadows.”
“If I had to be honest, I just want to see her embarrass herself because she’s never interacted with mortal humans before. They have different traditions down there.” Warwick quietly cackles when Nasus elbows him in the ribs. “While we’re here, I’m surprised you even let her through. Why’s that?” he asks the guards.
The guards exchange looks and smile. “The Lord requested that we let her through tonight. He overheard your conversation this morning, it seems.”
“His Lord is too soft on Lux sometimes,” Nasus mutters.
“Actually, he was counting on you to chase after her,” one responds happily. “We think that’s probably why he was willing to let her go.”
“Guess he’s not wrong,” Warwick says. “Well, we got a little lady to chase after for trying to push her luck. Can we go through now?”
“With pleasure, Guardians.” The guards hold up their scepters and insert the tip into two locks in the gate, turning them until two orbs glow turquoise. The mechanics of the gate twist and turn until the gate opens to a golden path that leads down the clouds. Beneath those clouds is the mortal realm.
“Do you know how to get down there without being seen?” the guard asks.
“Is it the same as traveling to the other kingdoms in the heavens?” Nasus asks.. He’s never driven the carriage down to the mortal realm before, but perhaps it’s the same with every other place in the heavens he’s taken Lux to. Don’t stray from the golden path, and you shall reach your destination.
“Almost. In the mortal realm, they have an element called ‘wind’. Once you reach the veil between the heavens and the mortal realm, you will feel a gust of air blowing around you. It is benevolent, for it will hide your presence as you descend from the clouds.”
Nasus nods. “I see. It seems I still have much to learn.” He bows his head to the guards. “Thank you for the information. We will come back with Her Majesty before sunrise.”
The guards bow as the carriage rolls out to the path. “Have a safe trip, Guardians.”
As Nasus and Warwick descends down the golden path, they realize: they have never interacted with mortal humans before either. If anything, they might be just as lost as Lux would be. Worse, they may be recognized as heavenly beings instantly. There are beings similar to them in the mortal realm, but wouldn’t they stand out?
“Perhaps next time, we should bring a change of… casual clothing,” Nasus quietly suggests.
“I mean, isn’t it a festival down there? I think we’d fit in,” Warwick says. “I heard that humans like to dress up as dragons or something during festivals.”
“I guess we’ll see.”
As they approach the veil, they feel a slight breeze picking up around them. It brushes against their fur as it swirls around. Warwick sticks his head out and sniffs the air.
“Weird,” Warwick says. “I thought ‘wind’ would have a smell, but it just smells like… like nothing.” He sniffs again. “Wait, I’m starting to smell a lot of different things now.”
Nasus looks around. He notices there’s magic embedded in the currents as it wraps around them like a mother protecting her offspring. “We’re here.”
The clouds slowly part to reveal the lands of the mortal realm. Clumps of lush forests, lines of tall mountains, and specks of light in various areas spread throughout the regions. From afar, they spot establishments from the well-lit regions, presumably the “cities” the mortals inhabit. Despite the dark night, the moon offers its light to guide them through the sky. Everywhere they look, there’s something new to see.
But more importantly, the wind feels really, really nice. Warwick sticks his head out and visibly relaxes as the wind strokes his fur, his tail wagging faster and faster as the wind picks up. Nasus’ grip on the reins tightens. His muzzle stiffens up as he tries his best to avoid sticking his head out of the carriage and enjoy the wind as well.
Focus, Nasus. We need to find Lux, even if the wind feels so nice .
But it doesn’t stop his tail from wagging just a little bit.
“So that’s where Lux went,” he says, as they approach the outskirts of a city below. “Lord Azir’s kingdom. I suppose she would choose his kingdom over the others.”
“Look,” Warwick calls, pointing at something beneath the trees. Between the gaps, they spot an abandoned carriage from their kingdom. “Lux already went ahead. We should settle here too.”
“Sounds like a plan.” Nasus directs the carriage to the trees and leaves the carriage next to Lux’s.
---
Lux tugs at her shawl as she approaches the bustling street by the forest—the aroma of fried, steamed, stewed, or grilled food, the laughter and the ever growing volume of voices from the crowds ahead, the sound of vendors luring another customer to try their game or their food, and lanterns and lights that seem to go on forever. Her eyes widen at the sight. She’s heard the cities were much bigger than the kingdoms, but this was a whole new world for her.
“Outta the way, shorty!” someone calls as they nearly knock Lux down from the tree she was hiding behind. A teenager runs ahead while two children follow closely behind.
“Sorry!” one calls with an apologetic wave before disappearing into the crowd of people and vendors.
“Well, so far, so good. No one’s noticed who I am,” she mumbles to herself nervously. She takes her hood off, letting her silver hair fall in place. She takes a deep breath. “Okay, Lux. Act natural. You’re a human being just like them.” She steps out from the shadows of the trees and into the lights. She holds her wand tighter when she feels a couple eyes turn to her, but they immediately carry on with their stroll through the streets.
“Hey miss! You look new here. Just visiting?” an older vendor asks.
Her head perks up, maybe a little too fast, and nods, maybe a little too fast. “Y-yes! Just visiting! I’ve never been to a festival before, so…” Was that too much information? It should be fine, right?
“A first timer! Well, you’re in for a treat! The vendor leans against the counter and ushers Lux over. “So, we got some pretty good places to visit ‘round here. You’re currently in the south side of the festival. If you head north, there’s a little place where people go through a series of physical challenges for the “Strongest Being Alive” title for the year until the next festival.”
“D-do any of them get hurt?”
“Some do, but usually it’s because they push themselves too far or bite off more than they can chew.” She pats her shoulder in laughter. “I wouldn’t worry about them much. They’re a tough and rowdy bunch, but they play fair.” She points to another street. “If you head west, you’ll see where they hold entertainment like plays, comedy skits, and whatnot. If you ask me, it seems more like a talent show, to display their skills to the people.”
“That doesn’t sound that bad. If people laugh or are fascinated by what you do, I think whatever you practiced for is a success.”
“I like your optimism, miss!”
“What about the east? What’s there?”
“Oh! That’s usually off-limits to common folks like us, but that’s the Kingdom of Rooster, where His Majesty Azir resides. Don’t be surprised, but some say he actually comes down to the Lunar Revel festival dressed like a common folk to enjoy the festivities.”
That… kinda sounds about right, actually. “Really?” she feigns surprise. “I heard he’s rather tall. Wouldn’t he stand out?”
The vendor smiles and shrugs. “Who knows? All I know is that it’s a rumor. But he doesn’t come off as the “cooped up in his kingdom all day” type of guy, so I wouldn’t be that surprised if I happen to see him roam around.”
“It’d be an honor to meet him then. I wonder what he’d be like trying to blend in with the crowd.” She almost can’t imagine it.
“Why don’t you walk around and have some fun then, miss? You might just happen to meet him.”
“Aw, thanks! I appreciate it!”
“Hey, y’know what?” She reaches for a bamboo basket behind the counter and lifts the top. A burst of steam rises from inside, and the vendor reaches for tongs and places a giant bun on a paper tray. She pulls it apart in half, a sweet and savory aroma wafting from within. It makes Lux’s mouth water almost immediately. “Here, try it. My own recipe.”
“O-oh gosh, I didn’t even bring any money. I don’t think I have anything else I can pay you with either.”
“Naw, on the house. I appreciate you taking the time to listen. I don’t get many customers, being all the way out here, but I like to chat with anyone who stops by.”
“Thank you so much.” Lux accepts, though hesitantly. She should have brought some money on her own, but she didn’t know what kind of currency they used in the human world. Gold… would seem suspicious, probably. She bows in thanks and heads north, where the brawls are.
She takes a closer look at the tray, and it seems like a pork bun. She blows a few times before taking a bite. “Hot!” she exclaims, covering her mouth to blow the hot steam out. She starts chewing, and a combination of sweet, salty, and savory flavors burst in her mouth like a firework. Her eyes light up and sparkle like it’s the best thing she has ever eaten.
Because it is. It’s the best thing she has ever eaten.
“Hey kid, where’d you get that?” someone asks.
With her mouth full, she hurriedly points at a vendor towards the forest and give them a thumbs-up. The stranger smiles kindly, thanks her, and heads for said stall. She swallows the food and peeks over, seeing the vendor smile happily at the new customer.
Lux giggles and continues her way north, occasionally stopping a lost stranger to guide them to the vendor. The moment she manages to squeeze through a crowd of people, she’s greeted by a spark that flies towards her. She yelps and ducks, evading the spark just in time, as it lights a nearby box on fire.
“Damn, I needed that!” a faint voice complains. “Stupid thing can’t even hold its fire correctly, ugh!”
Lux opens her eyes and looks up to find the source of that spark. Just beyond the crowd in a darker area, away from the vendors, lies a giant firecracker of bronze shaped like a dragon. She spots a girl, around her age, kicking the side as if she expects it to work by doing that. The girl seems petite, though a little taller than Lux, with black hair and braids in red wraps. Looking closer, she even has dragon tattoos around her right arm.
She wonders if she’s one of those ‘rapscallion’ people she hears about from the lords in the mortal realm.
The girl suddenly meets her eyes, and a moment passes before the blank expression on her face lights up with an idea. “Yo, moonlight! Care to help me out here?”
What? Her? “Me?”
“No, I mean the rat that’s scurrying behind you. Yes, you! This thing’s heavy, ya know!” The girl tries to lift the firecracker herself, but it does seem too much for her to carry on her own.
Lux looks around before making her way over, catching the other side before it collapses on the girl. “Hey,” Lux calls, peeking over the top of the rocket with a scowl of her own. “You know you could’ve hurt me back there. That spark, or whatever it is, almost flew into my face!”
The girl rolls her eyes and waves her off dismissively. “Oh please, it’s just one little firecracker. It won’t kill you.” Her lip juts out in thought. “Eh, I guess it’ll hurt. But hey, not my fault if these things have a mind of their own.”
“I’m pretty sure they don’t,” Lux mutters. “What is this for anyway?”
“It’s for the party, duh!” the girl exclaims. “You can’t have a party without something big and fun as this .” She extends her arms out to the firecracker with a big grin. “Made it myself actually. Pretty proud of it.”
“This whole thing?” Lux is impressed. It doesn’t look easy building a firecracker as big as this. “Wouldn’t you need a lot of flash powder for this?”
“Oh yeah, definitely,” the other girl answers proudly. “I got my resources, hon. Anyways, help me angle this thing on this doohickey.” She points at a small wooden block with an arc carved into it. “I gotta make sure this thing flies as high into the sky and throughout the city!”
“Well, when’s the party?”
“Eh,” the girl hums in wonder. “Dunno? Usually it’s at the end of the festival. Sometimes at the end of the brawls. It’s kinda different every time.”
Lux can’t help but hum in curiosity. “I see…” They set down the firecracker on the block and position it so that it will be shot over the crowd. “So… is that it?”
The girl’s head shoots out from the other side of the firecracker with an incredulous look? “Is that it ? Oh, no, no, this is just the beginning, moonlight! We gotta get more stuff! Wanna join me? I promise it’ll be lotsa fun!”
“Oh…” Lux hesitates for a moment. “This is my first time at a festival, so I was hoping I can see everything first.”
“Uh-huh, I am definitely listening. We need firecrackers. LOTS of them. We can get them from different places all around the festival. I’ll go south, and you head west!” The girl is about to take off into the crowd before she’s pulled back by Lux. “What now?”
“Don’t we need money to buy those? I don’t think they’d give them out for free.”
The girl’s lips purse into a crooked line. “Ugh, why’d I have to ask a little lady for help…” she mumbles to herself as she reaches behind her and brings out a small sack. “Here, moonlight. Go crazy. We don’t have much time!” She tosses it into Lux’s hands and runs off before Lux can ask about her share of the money.
“What did I get myself into…?” Lux asks herself. She looks into the sack and see a small pile of coins inside. She takes one out and examines the engravings. “Okay, so this is this much…. And this is this much... I think I got it. West, she said?” Lux hurries off with the sack of coins strapped to her belt under her shawl.
A shadow looms over where she was standing, eyes watching her weave through the crowd. Found her.
Chapter: Prologue
Fandom: League of Legends
Ship: Jinx/Lux
AU: Lunar Revel, Warring Kingdoms, Immortal Journey, Blood Moon
Summary: Every few millennia, a newborn child is blessed by moon with powers beyond mortality—the arrival of a new Lunar sovereign to guard the heavens from the darkness. On the night of the full moon, a daughter named Luxanna becomes destined to become the next Lunar Empress. But the darkness that was once so quiet begins to stir below, and Lux must now face the threat before history repeats itself once more.
[AO3]
Word count: 2586
Every few millennia, the full moon shines its light upon a newborn human, blessing them with its power. Once the child is bathed within the moonlight, they are no longer mortal—perhaps, closer to a god. They say such a child has hair and eyes that shimmer silver under the moon. From infancy, they are groomed by their zodiac-year kingdom to become the emperor or empress of a new era.
But to become the ruler of all zodiac kingdoms, comes with risk and danger as well. Should the child meet their untimely end, it would be the end of their era.
It wouldn’t be the first time it has happened. The kingdoms had fallen into disarray and became divided when an emperor, still too young to take the throne, had been slain by the Lunar Wraiths. Their war lasted for centuries until the next ruler was born.
An empress was born on the night of a crescent moon, an occurrence that has never happened before. Blessed by the powers of the crescent moon, the empress’ was born with hair and eyes as dark as the night. She was truly a gifted child, able to see things in the darkness that past rulers couldn’t.
Using her powers, the empress gathered the divided kingdoms and united them once more. Having received the blessings of all twelve kingdoms, her powers grew that she soon attained the status of a goddess.
But in the darkness, demons that sought to wreak havoc in the world lurked beneath them, whispering amongst themselves of the chaos they ought to bring. The key to open the gate of demons was to use the powers of the Lunar Goddess.
Discovering this, the goddess believed staying in the heavens would only bring about the downfall of the kingdoms she worked diligently to unite. In an attempt to hide herself, she descended into the land of mortals below—despite the protests from the zodiac rulers.
Her time with the mortals was slowly changing her. She became humbled, eventually filled with a desire for a life with them. Some rulers claimed she seemed almost human.
Over the next few centuries, the zodiac kingdoms assimilated with the mortals under the goddess’ wishes. There was peace among the gods, demigods, and mortals.
It was perfect.
A sorceress queen from a faraway kingdom had caught wind of the Lunar Goddess’ actions. The queen, who harbored feelings of disgust towards mortals, believed the goddess was not worthy of her powers. To bring an end to the goddess’ rule and bring the zodiac kingdoms to their rightful place in the heavens, she concocted a scheme to seal the goddess’ powers.
The queen turned to the demons, dangling the goddess’ powers of the moon before them. She asked for nothing in exchange, knowing it’s futile to bargain with their kind. Once the plan was set, all she needed to do was lure the goddess out.
She fabricated a meeting with the goddess and the rulers of the zodiac kingdoms, in order to crush the goddess in front of her entire court.
A great battle was unleashed in the heavens, each strike echoing like thunder in the skies. While the zodiac rulers were powerful, they were greatly outnumbered. Even the goddess was at her limit. Forced to her knees and rooted to the ground, the goddess was at the queen’s mercy.
However, before the queen could seal the goddess’ powers, a hero of a valiant sword dashed between them and held the queen at the tip of her blade. What the goddess and zodiac rulers couldn’t, the hero was able to do with only a few strikes.
The queen soon became too weak to fight back and fell to her knees. She looked up to see the Lunar Goddess supported up by the hero. As punishment for her defiance, the queen had her powers sealed and was banished from the heavens, forced to roam the land of mortals for eternity.
But doing so proved to be a great risk to the goddess, the punishment draining the last of her powers, and thus, her lifeline. Though the zodiac kingdoms emerged victorious against the demons and the sorceress queen, they suffered the greatest loss.
To preserve the goddess’ wishes, the kingdoms gathered and formed a friendly alliance. After all she had done, they didn’t wish to see her work be for naught. They had no reason to become divided once more. For the next several millennia, the kingdoms worked to keep the future emperors and empresses from harm and to live until their natural end.
The kingdoms slowly split apart over time, however, to expand their eyes on the lands. Some remained in the heavens to keep other gods in check, and some established their kingdoms among the mortals. Such kingdoms even accepted mortals who wished to enlist as warriors for their court.
However, the rulers soon realized that humans were fickle. Their lands were divided, much like their own kingdom was once, and war was rampant. The zodiac kingdoms that descended to the land of mortals remained, feeling sympathy for the people who lived near their kingdom.
The descended zodiac kingdoms kept close ties with each other, despite the distance. Their alliance held strong, and if needed, they were willing to send their troops to the other for battle. They maintained this lifestyle even after countless emperors and empresses were born, all the while taking care of them.
Despite there being no harm to come to the sovereigns, the zodiac kingdoms had some qualms of the lack of activity from the demons. They were awfully quiet, perhaps too quiet. They couldn’t help but wonder… if they were planning something in the shadows.
Something much bigger than the death of their goddess.
~.~.~.~
A soft cry pierces a deafeningly silent room, a sound that causes shouts and cries of joy within. A midwife gently holds up a newborn baby with tears streaming down her face. “It’s a girl, ma’am!” The baby cries with vigor, a sign of a healthy infant.
The mother sighs lovingly at the sight of her daughter. “Oh… my little baby…” She relaxes against the pillow and watches the midwife bathe the newborn in a small tub of water. The baby has a bit of chestnut brown hair on her head, almost resembling the shape of an upside down teardrop.
A knock comes from the sliding door. “Mother, are you okay? May I come in?”
“Yes, dear. You can come in.”
A young boy about the age of 7 slides the door open meekly, peeking into the room, before opening it enough to slip inside. “A girl, I heard! A little sister!” he whispers excitedly. “Can I hold her yet?”
“Not yet, young master.” The midwife comes back with the baby nicely wrapped with a blanket. The baby is quiet now, sleeping. She hands her to the mother, who holds her ever so gingerly like a delicate flower. “A healthy daughter, my lady. She will surely live long.”
The baby moves in her sleep as if she recognizes her mother’s touch. The boy’s eyes seem to sparkle.
“So small,” he says as he puts his finger on the baby’s palm. She wraps her hand around it softly in reaction. “Was I like this as a baby too?”
“Oh, you were very much like her. Though, you had quite the grip for a newborn,” the midwife says with a chuckle. “You just wouldn’t let go of your father’s finger, no matter how hard he pulled.
The mother sees her son fidget in his seat impatiently. She smiles. “Would you like to hold her?” She places her into the boy’s arms, shifting his hands to support the baby properly. “There.”
The boy’s eyes grow wide with joy as he lightly bounces her. “She’s so tiny, mother,” he repeats. He looks up at his mother. “Can I take her out to the balcony? I want her to see the moonlight as one of her first experiences."
"Of course, dear, but make sure to be careful with her." She turns to the midwife and requests to watch over them.
The boy walks to another pair of sliding doors, one covered with translucent white paper. As the midwife opens the door, he sits down by the edge of the balcony. "See that big bright circle in the sky?" he asks her. "It's called the moon. It comes up every night to grace us with its light. And what's more, the moon is much bigger than usual today. You're truly blessed, little sister."
The mother smiles in joy to see her son so fond of his new sister already. But the smile fades when the boy suddenly gasps loudly and calls for her in slight panic. When the midwife and she exchange glances, the midwife walks over to the son and gasps as well.
"M, my lady…"
"Is something wrong? Did something happen to her?"
"My lady, she…" The midwife gently takes the baby from her to show the mother. The baby that once had chestnut brown hair had suddenly turned a silvery white, her skin just ever so slightly paler than before. Looking closer, a strange light emanates from her own body. "She has been blessed by the moon…"
The mother's eyes widen. When she's given her daughter, she caresses her daughter's skin and hair. It was genuine. The baby cooes sweetly, unaware of the tears that well up in her mother's eyes. To be blessed by the moon was the sign of a new sovereign, and her daughter was deemed fit to become the next Lunar Empress.
While this is considered a blessing to many, the mother weeps for her daughter and the long winding path ahead of her. She knows the rulers of the zodiac kingdoms will keep her safe, but she surely may face dangers during her time as empress.
And if she ever loses her way… where will her mother and brother be to give her the comfort and answers she needs?
~.~.~.~
It had only been a week since the baby’s birth, and a letter from the king had arrived a few days after.
Today is a grand day, for the ruler of this land himself is coming to visit the home of the new empress. The mother and son stay huddled at the center of their living room, anxiously waiting for the announcement of His Majesty’s arrival.
Just when they think the room can’t be any quieter, a voice softly announces from outside, “His Majesty of the Kingdom of Rooster, Azir, has arrived. He will be entering shortly.” The two deeply bow their heads, waiting for the sliding door to open.
“Pardon the intrusion,” a different voice calls as the door slides open to a headless body. “My, I never realized how tall I am in other mortals’ homes.” Legs bend lower to carefully squeeze his body through the door and sits before the mother and the son. “Please raise your heads. I am simply here to discuss matters with our new empress.”
As they raise their heads, they lay their eyes upon the ruler of their land, the ruler of the Kingdom of Rooster. He seems like a man with the head and feathers of a bird. But from what they usually see, he is dressed like a humble civilian today.
“Your Majesty, it is an honor to be graced with your presence,” the mother greets with another bow. The boy follows suit. “It is not much, but we have prepared some tea for your visit.” The son politely sets down a tray with a cup of tea and a plate of dumplings.
Azir’s eyes seem to squint as if he’s smiling and slightly bows his head. “No, it is I who is truly humbled by your generosity and hospitality. I understand this can be a difficult situation.” He raises his head and looks at the baby peacefully sleeping in the mother’s arms. “May I?” he asks.
“Of course, Your Majesty.” The mother raises the baby into Azir’s hands, and he cradles her carefully. The baby’s eyes flutter open, but she doesn’t cry at the sight of Azir. She stares in wonder at how different he looks from her human family. When he gently pokes her cheek, she grips his finger and tries to suck it.
Azir chuckles. “Even after all these millennia, I am still fascinated by how small the sovereigns are when they come into this world.”
“Your Majesty, how long will we have with her?” the boy suddenly asks.
“Hold your tongue! That is impolite,” the mother whispers in warning.
“You are worried, my dear boy,” Azir replies. “I understand this very well.” He gently rocks the baby as he continues to explain, “By tradition, we keep the child under the care of their birth family for 6 months. Usually by then, they can endure the travel to their respective kingdom. Considering she was born in the Year of Dog, she will be ascending to the heavens to be taken care of there.”
“Are, are we allowed to go with her?” the boy asks.
Azir closes his eyes and shakes his head. “I’m afraid not. Mortals cannot withstand the ascension into the heavens. It is too powerful for their vessels to endure. Even if they do, they end up crippled. I do not wish such a thing on her family.” He seems to hesitate. “Had it been a kingdom established in your lands, like mine, you would be warmly welcomed into our courts.”
The boy visibly deflates, disappointed he won’t be able to watch his little sister grow. “Oh… I see…”
“What is your name, my dear boy?”
“M-my name is Garen, sir, Your Majesty,” he answers.
“Garen,” he repeats. “What do you wish to be in your future?”
Garen doesn’t hesitate when he answers, “A warrior, Your Majesty. I have always wished to fight for the kingdom that has always treated me well all my life.” When he sees Azir’s eyes squint happily, he suddenly feels self-conscious of how proudly he answered his question.
“When you grow older and still wish to become a warrior, you can enlist in my court.” He sees Garen’s eyes widen and start fidgeting in joy. He chuckles again. “As the empress’ family, I humbly offer my court to be your new home. There is more than enough room, and I can ensure protection should anyone try to bring harm onto you.” He strokes the baby’s face gently with his finger. “And if there ever comes a time the young Empress is allowed to travel to my kingdom, I can arrange a proper meeting. After all, she may not have many memories of you by the time she’s taken.”
The mother’s eyes begin to overflow with tears. “Thank you. Thank you very much, Your Majesty. I am very much in your debt,” she weeps as she bows.
“I will send two of my warriors to escort you to my kingdom in three days. Will that be enough time to gather your bearings?”
“It’s more than enough, Your Majesty. Thank you very much for your generosity.”
Azir nods in satisfaction. “Excellent. I will look forward to your arrival.” He looks back at the baby, who had fallen asleep to Azir’s voice. He hums in curiosity. “What is her name? I don’t believe I’ve gotten it yet.”
Garen smiles at his little sister, the light of his family. “Luxanna. Her name is Luxanna.”
