Traveler in the Twilight

Bright stars greeted her crystal blue eyes as they fluttered open. With a groan the pink haired soldier known as Lightning picked her head off the grass on which she lay. Her head felt foggy, and it pounded with an excruciating headache that made her wince as she slowly pushed herself up into a sitting position. Even that small amount of movement caused the soldier grit her teeth as her muscles burned and ached. Almost as if she had fallen from the very sky she had woken up to.

The Guardian Corps soldier sat for a moment to let her body adjust, and when the pain in her muscles died down a bit she scanned the area around her for any clue about where she was. First she looked around herself, her keen eyes attempting to pick out any shapes she could in the darkness that surrounded her. She sat in a giant open field, that stretched for what appeared to be miles in every direction. The sky above her was crystal clear with not a cloud in sight. But the strange large plants and wild life that she had come to know on Pulse where none existent here. She looked behind her to where Cocoon, her home that floated above the planet of Pulse would normally be. Instead there floated a real moon that cast its pale glow over the field.

With a great deal of effort and no small amount of pain Lightning forced herself to her feet. The soldier was used to pain, and pushing through it, but this was on a completely different level. After taking a few long breaths to force the pain out of her mind she turned in a circle, searching for possible signs of the other l'Cie. A small tinge of worry welled up inside her as when she saw no one.

There was no trace of Hope, the boy whose mother had been lost in the fight against the Sanctum when they tried to purge Cocoon of the l'Cie. She heard no chirping of the Chocobo that was always the tell tale sign of Sazh being nearby, seeing as the little bird always resided within his hair. What worried her even more was that there was also no Fang sitting nearby keeping watch as she always did since they had landed on Pulse. Gran Pulse, Lightning corrected herself in her mind as Fang always did. The pinkette smiled briefly at her fond memories of talking to the tall bronze skinned Pulsian hunter. Fang had been their guide to Pulse, since she was a native of the planet, but was also branded a l'Cie the same as the others along with her life long redheaded friend Vanille.

Lightning's eyes snapped open wide as a thought suddenly crossed her mind. Her brand! Quickly her hands went to the zipper on the brown vest that she wore beneath her white sleeveless Guardian Corps uniform. She unzipped it and looked down at the brand on her chest. It had six arrows, three pointing in opposite directions of each other, and a small eye barely open in the center of them.

A loud sigh escaped the soldier's lips as she calmed her suddenly racing heart. She still had time. Hopefully she would make it back to the others before the eye of her brand opened all the way and she became a monster known as a 'Cieth.

With another quick glance around Lightning attempted to think. How had she gotten here? She made several attempts to retrace her steps in her mind but she couldn't remember anything. The only thing she could recall was travelling with her friends. There was a very distant and distorted memory of them returning to Eden, just like they had planned, but everything beyond that was just a white haze. The memory itself was like a chopped up piece of film. Like parts of it were simply erased. Blank. Like an empty page.

A gloved hand went to her temple and attempted to rub the headache that reared its ugly head away. When she moved her bangs away from her eyes a bright light caught her attention.

Off in the distance above a dark treeline there was a shining light that was situated atop a towering building. It was like a beacon or a light house. Everything beneath it was in shadows, but from where she stood there appeared to be other buildings around that one. Lightning's eyebrow raised in confusion. There weren't any buildings on Pulse, save for the village of Oerba which they had been traveling toward before this incident, and Oerba was a snow covered tundra.

Well, where there is light, there's usually people, and hopefully some information. The soldier thought as she took a deep breath and made her way toward the light after checking the small pouch that she wore strapped to her left thigh. She still had a few of her potions and some ammunition for her gun blade with hung behind her legs, strapped to the belt around her midsection.

The walk seemed to take hours as her body screamed in pain with every step she took. But finally she reached the tree line that separated the field from the buildings. Gingerly she took a step between the trees and kneeled behind a large bush to observe the place.

It was a grand city with tall skyscrapers and neon lights. Although a bit primitive compared to the super high-tech places she was used to living in on Cocoon, the place was still fairly well advanced. A few people wandered up and down the street that she could see through an alleyway barely a few feet from where she was. The people wore simple yet eccentric style clothing. One man who walked by was clad in a long coat that flared out around his wrists and legs with very old-looking boots, and a top hat on his head.

Lightning smirked to herself at the odd attire, but then reminded herself that she would more than likely not blend in well in a place like this. With her short skirt, and knee-high boots along with the shoulder pad on one arm with two glowing lines that where the trade mark of the Guardian Corps. On top of all of that no one could miss the long red cape that hung from the same left shoulder that her shoulder pad adorned.

So she decided to play it safe, and stood up from behind the foliage and made her way quickly, but silently up the alley. Once she reached the end of it the soldier pressed herself up against the brick wall and peered around the corner. The street was well-lit by the neon lights and lamp posts that lined it. Lightning's eyes darted back and forth along the street, her trained ears listened intently for any source of information. It wasn't long before what appeared to be a bar across the street caught her attention.

People shuffled in and out of the place, laughing and talking among themselves. Everywhere else however seemed to be closed up for the night.

I suppose a bar is as good a place as any to try and find some information.

Bars full of people were usually chock full of information, since she could easily blend in and observe the people inside without having to ask any questions. With another glance around the street to assure that no one would see her, Lightning stepped out from the shadows and swiftly made her way over to the bar. She quickly ducked into the shadows next to bar when two men came out of the double doors laughing and slurring their words loudly. After a moment of stumbling around in front of the bar the men made their way past her and she slipped out from the shadows and into the bar.

As she expected the bar was absurdly crowded and noisy. But she quickly spotted a table off in a dark corner of the room which she promptly made her way too. Careful to avoid anyone's eye as she noted that really didn't fit in here. She took her seat, crossing her arms over her chest and one leg over the other and focused. Her ears trying to pick up any useful information. Everyone babbled among themselves, laughing and joking, which wasn't at all helpful to the soldier, but she continued quietly observing until one conversation turned to something of value.

"So, your son is attending the University of Piltover eh?" One man drunkenly asked his friend that sat at the table with him.

Piltover? Lightning raised an eyebrow at the name. That wasn't any place she had ever heard of.

" Yeah, and who knows maybe he'll even join the League one day." The second man answered.

League? Now I definately know I'm not on Pulse anymore.

" Yeah maybe he'll get to fight alongside our good Sheriff and hopefully they'll catch that bandit she's been after for so long." The first man responded in a cheerful tone as he took a swig out of his mug.

Lightning continued to sit in the dark corner as the conversation turned back to being dull and worthless. But she picked up on a few more things among the other patron's conversations. Apparently this League was a big part of their lives, many peopled talked of matches, and how they helped the city states. About the fact that a lot of the people who were apart of this League were magic users and very skilled in those arts. Lightning was beginning to think this place might be able to help her figure out how she had ended up in this strange place.

Well...it isn't much but it's certainly a start. I should find this League that they keep talking about. But I'll need a map.

With a quick nod to herself Lightning stood up from the table she had occupied, and in the same way she had come, she slipped out of the bar and around the corner back into the shadows. There she stood as she glanced around the street. Where at this hour might I find a map? She asked herself. After a few moments of staring off into space she realized she was staring at a street sign that pointed in opposite directions. Before leaving the shadows of the alley next to the bar she glanced around to make sure yet again that no one saw her. When she reached the sign she noted that there were two arrows pointing in opposite directions.

Left: University of Piltover

Right: Ferry Dock

I suppose a University would have maps, I can try there.

With that Lightning swiftly turned on her heel and quickly but cautiously made her way down the street. Sticking to the shadows as much as possible, even though there was no one to be seen wandering the streets as the night continued on. After a few twists and turns of the street corners as Lightning followed the signs that pointed the way to the University, Lightning finally arrived at her destination.

At the top of the building sat a giant telescope with a light beaming from it. She gathered that the light was the same on she had seen from the field where she landed. The soldier quickly ducked behind a hip high brick wall that surrounded a large garden filled court-yard that surrounded the towering skyscraper. Most of the building was dark save for a few lights on the higher levels and the ground level in front of her. Through the windows of the building that made up the entire front wall, she could see that it was a lobby. A towering staircase seemed to lead up to the higher floors lay in the very center of it. In front of which she could see a desk with a brown-haired woman who worked diligently on some papers in front of her.

Off to the left of the desk where what looked to be dark leather couches arranged in a circle. Behind which stood a large map pinned up on a bulletin board.

Bullseye. Now how do I get it? Lightning thought as her eyes narrowed in on her target and she glanced back and forth along the lobby. She couldn't get inside without the woman seeing her very well. Seeing as the board was in a central part of the room. Lightning sat there for a moment, contemplating her options but her thoughts her interrupted by the sound of footsteps behind her.

She quickly turned to see them, repositioning herself in the shadows as she watched them walk past. A young man and woman carrying books and bags on their backs talked among each other and didn't seem to notice the soldier as they shuffled past her. Her instincts kicked in and told her to follow them. So when they were a safe distance away Lightning stood from behind the brick wall and followed them, walking in a way that her boots wouldn't make any noise on the concrete walkway that led to the doors.

The students swung one of the large doors open unceremoniously and Lightning dashed to catch it, somehow doing so without making a single noise, and she slipped in and stood behind a large plant that stood next to the door. Blue eyes observed from between the leaves of the odd plant looking plant. She attempted to ignore the smell from the plant that made her nostrils curl.

" Hello Kyle and Sam. Are you ready for your classes today?" The woman at the desk asked in a thickly accented voice. The girl nodded to the woman, and continued with the conversation which Lightning paid no attention to.

Her eyes darted between them and the map on the billboard. The students stood between the secretaries line of sight and her target. So the soldier took advantage of the distraction and ducked low to slip over behind one of the couches. Lightning listened intently to the conversation this time, listening for any sign of movement from the students or the secretary as she eyed the map. It was held up by four small pins at the corner. Ripping it would cause noise and draw attention to her. After peeking up from behind the couch she could see that the woman at the desk was still out of her view. Carefully and with a deep breath Lightning pressed herself against the couch and reached up to un-pin the bottom corners of the map. Then ducked back down quickly when she heard one of them turn around and the conversation stop.

Lightning eyed the top corners of the map, as the conversation picked up again. She could hear the squeaking of the secretary's chair as she moved around in it and shuffled some papers on her desk. Lightning could tell she was running out of time. Her mind raced and finally she reached for her weapon. With a practiced flick of her wrist, she turned switched her weapon to it's sword form. Being careful to only do so when she heard the noise of the chair moving around to cover the creaking metallic sounds of her weapon.

The conversation continued, and with after one more glance to see that she was still clear, Lightning slowly raised the tip of her gun blade, careful to keep it behind the black thin metal leg of the billboard, and with a light flick of her wrist she popped the pins out of the top two corners and the map fell to the ground beside her. The slight swishing sound of the paper hitting the ground apparently didn't catch the attention of anyone in the conversation. Lightning quickly folded up her gun blade and with one hand rolled up the map around her gun blade and stuffed it into the sheath.

" Alright guys, you're all signed in for your night classes, please make your way to your classes they will begin shortly." The secretary said as Lightning could hear the chair moving away from her desk.

" Thanks, but could you possibly show us the way since our classrooms have been changed?" The male student asked.

" I'd be happy to." Came the secretary's reply.

Lightning's eyes went wide for a second as she looked to her right. The stairs. They could clearly see her and the missing map from there.

Think Lightning, think. Blue eyes darted around the room, and she spotted one of the other couches that couldn't be seen by the staircase. With another quick glance over the back of the couch she was already hiding behind, she could see them beginning to move toward the stairs and Lightning with practiced agility, silently tumbled her way behind the other couch and there she stayed as she heard footsteps clearly sounding throughout the lobby. Once she was sure the coast was clear, Lightning stood up from behind the couch and swiftly made her way back out of the University and back into the shadows of the garden around it.

She glanced around for a safe place that also provided her with light, and found it on a secluded side of the building. There was some light peeking out from one of the curtained windows of the second floor, that would suffice. The soldier made her way over to it and carefully pulled the map out of her sheath and from around her gun blade.

When she unrolled it, her eyebrows raised at the look of the strange place.

It was all one continent, that was apparently called Valoran. Up on a northern peninsula of the map she could see Piltover scrawled in artsy looking writing. She scanned the map carefully, noting all the different city states, that were marked with star shapes. In the very center of the map, was marked The Institute of War, beneath it in parenthesis was written: League of Legends.

With a nod to herself, Lightning rolled the map back up around her gun blade and slipped them back into the sheath, and looked up at the sky. It had been at least a few hours since she had woken up in the field and made her way to this place. She could tell this by the position of the moon as it was now in the center of the sky, and when she had awoke, it had only been just above the horizon.

Lightning made her way from the university, she needed to get a sense of direction in this place. She needed to get up higher. A glint of metal caught her eye and she spied a ladder that led up to the top of a reasonably tall building. After a glance around just to be sure, she scaled the ladder. Her muscles reminding her that she needed to take these things slow. She had ignored their cries for rest since she had begun her quest for information. Guardian Corps soldiers were trained to ignore all pain in the pursuit of an objective, so that's what she did.

Once atop the building, Lightning scanned the skyline between the buildings that she could see. When she had looked at the map, she had seen that the city of Piltover was an ocean town. So she scanned the darkness that was scarcely illuminated by the lights from the street lamps. Off in the distance near the edge of the city Lightning could see the distinct shine of water in the moonlight, so she turned her back to it and face the darkness that wasn't illuminated by the moon. A large beaten road led out of the city. It was the only one that appeared to lead away from this place, and along it were what appeared to be farms, and crop fields.

Well, that appears to be my path now. Lightning thought before making her way carefully down from the ladder, and with yet another cautious look around, Lightning made her way through the city heading toward the road that would lead her to the League of Legends, and with any luck. Home.

After days and a long grueling journey from Piltover, Lightning finally arrived at the Institute of War. The sun was just beginning to rise that morning and it cast a dreamy glow over the expansive building. The marble steps of the Institute glittered brilliantly in all colors that complimented the light grey stone walls, painted on which where several symbols. Lightning paused for a moment to admire the intricate carvings along the railings of the stairs and along the top and bottom of the walls. She wasn't usually one to admire craftsmanship or architecture, but the carvings where so detailed that she simply couldn't ignore them. The place itself resembled a castle. It was easily the size of a small city with six tall spires jutting up from the walls, each flying different flags with the same symbols that where engraved along the front walls. The soldier presumed they symbolized the different nations of the land that she now wandered.

After taking a deep breath Lightning began her climb up the gigantic staircase. Upon reaching the top she was stopped by two heavily armed guards. They both bore large fancy shields and armor along with broadswords. They simply stared at her unblinking as she approached them.

Ok then, lets see what happens. Lightning thought before she took a step between them.

Two swords crossing in front of her halted her movement and she looked to the guard to her left that spoke in an absolute voice.

" Champions and Summoners only."

Lightning backed away, noting both sets of eyes on her. She held her hands in front of her to signal that she meant no harm to them before turning to face the sunrise. A rosy hue bathed the town that lay at the steps of the Institute. It had a calming effect on Lightning as she stood and contemplated her options. Here she stood, in a completely different world from her own, before the one place that might have a chance of helping her get home. Her gun blade bumped against the back of her leg as she shifted back and forth from one leg to the other in thought.

Solemnly her eyes drifted down to her weapon as her thoughts had wandered back to her new-found friends. Without thinking her hand went to the hilt of her weapon as she pulled it from its sheath, and with the usual light flick of her wrist she drew it to its sword form. Ignoring the soft reeking of metal as she knew the guards had placed their hands on their weapons, the soldier lifted her sword to the sky. It shone brilliantly in the sunlight, sending beams of light all around her that made the marble steps seem to glow a rainbow color at her feet.

Lightning closed her eyes and lowered her gun blade, taking in a deep breath of the fresh air. It cooled her mouth and stilled her thoughts, and when the soldier opened her eyes they burned a cool crystal blue with determination. With a decisive flick of her wrist she folded up her weapon and returned the weapon to its sheath, and turned on her heel to face the guards.

They took a step back at the look of the woman standing before them. Her red cape billowed in the breeze that kicked up around her, as she asked,"How do I become a champion?"

A/N: To new readers: I hope that you enjoyed this first chapter and may you continue to enjoy the story as you read onward. I would like to note that I began writing this story over a year ago, and since then have recently began giving this story a much needed face lift. I have gone back to this chapter and other early ones to clean up errors and other issues. I hope that you enjoyed this version :)

If you have any questions, thoughts, or comments. Please feel free to leave me a review or give me a bump on my thread on the League of Legends fanfiction forums.

To returning readers: I'm sure that you enjoyed the changes to this chapter and will continue to love and support this story. All of you mean so much to me!

Thanks again to all of you!