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Description

The Adventures of the Yordle Institute;
Ch 5: Dream of a Vagabond

Ziggs found himself in a grassy meadow somewhere far from Piltover. It was warm, like a midsummer’s night, unlike the cold ending of winter Piltover was in now. The stars shrouded the navy sky, unhindered by unnatural light, as was the firefly’s that tried to imitate them in the grass.

Ziggs felt no pain; he had quickly forgotten the trouble he had been in, in favor of identifying where he was now. He peeked above the grass and found the silhouette of Ezreal standing in front of a massive skyscraper of a tree. Ezreal’s gauntlet, a relic of the past and the source of his magic, was glowing effortlessly.

This to Ziggs, meant the area was full of mana. The great ancient tree that towered before the two and was as tall as Piltover’s central tower if not taller. Its trunk was just as massive as it was tall, the bark look strong as steal, and the leaves were a bioluminescent teal. It had an aura around it, but it had been fading for some time. The tree was slowly dying. The trunk of the tree was glowing red and orange as if it was burning from the inside out. Both Ezreal and Ziggs could feel the great trees pain but did not understand why it worried them.

“Where are we?” Ziggs asked.

Ezreal shook his head and opened his mouth to speak. Before he could get the words out a loud bang came from the tree. Bark of the tree had exploded leaving the already wood underneath exposed. A massive hole, the size of a cathedral door, burned its way into the tree. Both youths jumped at the loud noise. They stood in silence helplessly as the ancient tree burned.

“I don’t know,” Ezreal said with a fearful tone in his voice. “A dream? I have these a lot, but I’ve never shared them with anyone.”

Suddenly, they heard a sound from behind, like a low rumble of a horn that climbed in pitch until it sounded like a whistle.

A strange being, passed the two urgently racing towards the tree. He looked like an old vagabond waring faded gipsy clothing, and a beard that seemed to cover anything-resembling identifiable features. One horn sprouted from his head and his face covered with a mask with three holes.

The celestial being casted a powerful spell and the giant tree glowed a bright gold color. The celestial had put it in a stasis; the flames froze in time. The entity looked at Ezreal and Ziggs and trumpeted them a warning.

Then the dream simply ended.

_________________________________________________________________________

Ziggs awoke in more pain than he remembered arriving with. He woke up in the hospital face down on a sterile smelling pillow. He thought about rolling over, but evaluating his pain decided against it. Instead, he let out a grown and rested on his chin. His eye now free to look around the infirmary.

Ezreal was laying on a cot across from his. The boy was stirring his expression, confused. He had forgotten where he was. He sat up and looked in Ziggs detraction. The sight of the injured yordle jogged his memory.

“What did you see?” Abigail asked from the corner of the dimly lit room.



“Wh-?” Ezreal failed to finish.

Abigail had overheard them talking. She knew this was of great importance and tried to explain this to them.

“Don’t play dumb with me. Dreams are only shared, when the celestials drag you both into it,” the old yordles voice cracked. “What did you both see?”

Ezreal and Ziggs both looked at each other. Remembering dreams is hard, but the images were fresh in both youth’s heads.

“Quickly! Before the dream fads.” Abigail ordered.

“There was a tree, a really big tree,” Ziggs remembered.

“Was it burning?” Ezreal tried to confirm that they did in fact share a dream.

“Yep,” Ziggs confirmed. “That’s about it, Can I got back to bed now?”

Ziggs head was pounding; he tried to find a cool spot on his pillow but his fur was to warm.

“What happened to the tree?” Abigail probed.

“Something came a put it into a stasis.” Ezreal explained. He had never seen a stasis spell in person but had done enough research on it to understand what it was. “I think it was trying to tell us something, but he only made odd noises.”

“Hmmm” Abigail heard there bizarre tail ad began righting it down.

“Ziggs, when you visit Freljord I will have you visit the Ursine tribe.” Abigail ordered. “They would be very interested in your dream.”

“Why what did it mean?” Ziggs asked.

“I don’t know.” Abigail told him honestly. “I just know it does. The Ursine know a lot about dreams. They will know how to interpret them.”

Abigail has a long relationship with the Ursine. The infections and diseases that yordles are plagued with often effect Ursine as well. Abigail had allied with the Ursine when the same plague that had affected the yordles also struck the bear tribes. Abigail saved the tribes with the same antidote she had used in Bandle.

“I will send them a note before you leave telling who to look out for.” Abigail told them.

Ziggs was starting to get restless. He sat up ignoring his sore body.

“Well, I gotta get back to work.” Ziggs rolled out of bed.

“Ziggs, you’re not leaving,” Abigail told him sternly. She gave him her famous death stare. The scowl was strong enough to cool even the manic Ziggs. With drooped ears, he quickly got back into bed.

Even though Ziggs wound healed magically; it still took time for the muscles, nerves, and veins to connect properly. It also took a lot of energy for the wound to heal fast making anyone feel drained, small yordles even more so. Ziggs mind would never accept his feeling of exhaustion.

Ziggs looks at Ezreal who was now laughing quietly at the pussy wiped professor. Abigail’s gaze quickly turned to Ezreal who quickly stopped.

“Will you get me a few things?” Ziggs asked restlessly. “I have a few blueprints and I wonna’ work on em’. If I’m going to be stuck here a while. Might as well work on those prints.”

Ezreal gave him a hesitant expression, not forgetting the trick Ziggs had played on him in the lab.

“Why should I?” Ezreal looked at Ziggs through untrusting eyes.

“You want a make-up exam or not?” Ziggs lorded over Ezreal.

Ezreal rolled his eyes, “What do you need me to get?”

“Just a few blueprints and paperwork for the substitute for my classes.” Ziggs clarified. “Just grab the gray file cabinet by my writing desk. It should have my exam out line in it. The non-explosive one.” Ziggs chuckled.

Ziggs gave him directions to his loft and Ezreal drew a map to it. Ezreal left the room promising he would return with the filing cabinet.

Ziggs watched him leave already anxiously waiting for his return.

“Have you dreamed like this before, Ziggs?” Abigale asked earnestly.

“Why? Er…” Ziggs remembered the dream he had about Halley and the stars. He told Abigail everything he could remember. Abigail listened stone-faced to Ziggs dream.

“I think it would be a good Idea to share this with Halley.” Abigail said.

_________________________________________________________________________



Ezreal walked out of the hospital in the direction the rough and ready map told him to go in. The sun was bright; Ezreal had to squint in order to adjust his eyes to the light. The air was still cold but not cold enough to keep the puddles in the street frozen. Winter was disappearing into spring but it was only just starting to warm up.

He walked a while until he came to the building where the loft was supposed to be. Ezreal saw a bed and a writing desk thrown by the street. Ezreal climbed the stairs to Ziggs room.

The door was gone.

Ezreal did not know if he should be surprised at this or not. He shrugged and walked in. The room inside was empty no papers or filing cabinets could be found. When he turned to leave, he found an eviction notice pined next to the doorway.

The eviction notice was for Ziggs, on the grounds of “Destructive Mischief”.

Ezreal took the paper off the wall and went down to see the woman who owned the building in her shop.

Ezreal walked into the fancy hats shop. It was full of hats he often saw people of “high society” wear.

“Um, hi.” Ezreal started.

“Oh Hello! How are you doing today?” The middle-aged lady in the pink hat asked. “Is there anything I can help you find?”

“Well,” Ez tried again.

“Oh aren’t you a cute one.” The woman said looking over the youth. “Here try this one on.”

The lady grabbed a brown top hat with gears under a ribbon and perched it on top of Ezreal’s head. The women gave him a coy smile. This made Ezreal feel uncomfortable.

“I am here to get Ziggs filing cabinet,” Ezreal said quickly. Hoping this would get him out of this shop fast.

“Oh that nuisance.” the lady exasperated. “I got tired of the damage he causes. I found his door blasted it off the hinges, and he just left it on the ground. That micro bastard is a fire hazard.”

“So… Do you have the cabinet?” Ezreal asked again.

    “I lefty everything out on the street.” The lady said.

“Aren’t you being a bit harsh?” Ezreal asked.

The lady sighed and pursed her lips. “Young man, never rent to a yordle. Now,” She took the hat from Ezreal’s head. “Fifty gold get you this hat.” She smiled as she held the hat next to her face.

“No thanks,” Ezreal said with a disappointed expression on his face. How is he going to pass Ziggs class now? How long would he have to wait for funding if he did not pass that demand test?

Ezreal was determined to find Ziggs cabinet. Ezreal left the building and proceeded to look on the street for the cabinet. He looked around the writing desk and found a filing cabinet setting underneath. He opened it and found it was full of papers. The papers disheveled and out of place. Ezreal picked it up and filled it with papers and supplies from Ziggs desk.

He made his way back to the hospital. He had made half way to his destination when he had an uneasy feeling as if being fallowed. It was bright out so Ezreal decided to use the main streets. The wide-open spaces allowed Ezreal more awareness of his surroundings. As a Marksman in the League. Awareness of his soundings was an important skill to have. The street was crowded however, so Ezreal could not see his shadower. He had made it to the hospital but the feeling never left. Ezreal turned around before entering the hospital and in an alleyway, he thought he could see three kids looking his way.

Ezreal entered the room with a nervous look on his face. There were other yordles in the room visiting Ziggs. Ezreal cannot remember a time where he has seen a yordle alone. They seemed overwhelmingly social to him. Abigail was still there. Heimerdinger and Halley arrived a short time after Ezreal had left.

_____________________________________________________________________

“What took you so long?” The restless yordle grumbled.

Ezreal did not know what to say. He set the cabinet on the nightstand beside the bed and handed the notice to Ziggs.

“OH, FUCK!” Ziggs exclaimed reading over the eviction letter.

“Watch your language in my hospital.” Abigail barked.

Ziggs looked over the note. “It wasn’t even me who blew the door off this time.”

“Maybe this will teach you a lesson in serenity” Heimerdinger chimed in. “Your Manic behavior will get you kill one day.”

“I don’t do anything! Things just happen to me.” Ziggs debated

“Everything that has happened to you is a direct result of a decision you have made. Whether you admit to it or not.” Heimerdinger said.

His expression was unchanging. “Now, let’s talk about that dream.”

“I don’t feel like it.” Ziggs said feeling frustrated with all the bad luck he has been having lately.

“Now is not the time to be difficult Ziggs,” Abigail told him. “The celestials are trying to tell you something. You just don’t ignore something like that.”

“There are many multi-dimensional realms attached to this world, Ziggs.” Heimerdinger started to lecture. “The dimensions that govern magic are in there own world entirely. When something in this world is thrown out of balance this sends ripples through all of these realms.”

“From what Abigail has told me, I hypothesize that the celestial realm is warning you of something.” Heimerdinger explained further.

“Why? Why me? Sure it wasn’t meant for golden boy over there?” Ziggs pointed to the blond haired Ezreal.

Ezreal reluctant to comment, simply shrugged his shoulders. He wished that he could simply walk out the door. Unfortunately, he had to wait for Ziggs to give his makeup exam. Ezreal never wanted to be the golden anything. All he wanted to do is to explore and make maps.

“Ziggs we shared a dream too.” Halley. “I think all of us are involved.”

“Why us?” Ziggs asked calming down. He had forgotten Halley was there she was quietly reading everyone lips.

“I think it’s our work on the essence build up.” Halley told him. “I didn’t think it was that bad but maybe it is. The stars are warning us of something.” Halley said earnestly.

“You think that thing me and Ezreal saw was a celestial?” Ziggs asked Heimerdinger. “Because he really seemed like something out of a fever dream to me.”

“Celestials have power over the dream realm.” Halley explained. “Every dream you have is a connotation given by the stars. If a celestial being appears to you that means it wants you to do something.”

“Ziggs again, I implore you to go seek the advice of the Ursine.” Abigail reiterated. “They should know what the dream meant.”

“I already said I would go.” Ziggs reminded them, “and if you want my exam you will have to agree to go to come with me.” Ziggs looked up at Ezreal and handed his paw for him to shake. Ezreal, forced to concede to Ziggs demand, and shook his paw.

“When can I get out of here?” Ziggs asked Abigail.

“When the hair one your scare starts to grows back.” Abigail explained, “That means the healing under the skin is complete.”

Ziggs patted his back; the patch of fur was still missing. He moaned to himself and turned his attention to the filling cabinet Ezreal had brought. He started flipping through the papers until he came to the final exam. Ziggs took it out and looked it over. Making sure it was for the right class, and then handed it to Heimerdinger.

“We should hear back from the institute of war for the approval for our research.” Halley said.

“The expedition is still slated for July.” Heimerdinger reminded Ziggs. “You should be well by then, right Abigail?”

“The healing process should only take a week for Ziggs.” Abigail said, “Healing fast is one of the perks of being young.”

“Will you give this Ezreal back at the academy?” Ziggs asked Heimerdinger.

Heimerdinger looked over the test. Heimerdinger quickly looked at Ziggs than look at Ezreal then back at the exam.

“This is an exam?” Heimerdinger belittled.

“Yeah, meant for undergrads, not for you.” Ziggs retorted.

Heimerdinger is notorious for giving some of the hardest exams. Ziggs is much more lenient to his students.

“Right then,” Heimerdinger said ignoring Ziggs remark. “Care to join me at my lab, Ezreal?”

“Yes sir,” Ezreal said grateful for his second chance.

The two left the room.

Hours passed and Ypsilan poked his head through the door.

“Here is Ezreal’s exam. I am so glade you changed your mind Ziggs you won’t regret this.” Ypsilan said appreciatively.” This will really help me a lot.”

“I didn’t do it for you,” Ziggs clarified, “The kid saved me.”

“That kid will do a lot more for us once we get him in the ice caves.” Ypsilan said excited.

“Ice caves?” Ziggs was confused, “I thought we were going straight to the rift?”

“And the Howling Abysses.” Ypsilan told Ziggs, “The only way to get to these places is through ice caves. You wouldn’t know this because the magic summons you straight to the base.”

Ziggs never thought of how the summoners got to the rift themselves. He always thought they just teleported themselves there as well.

“Well, if I can’t blow up a mountain, might as well blow some holes on the rift. You know, for science.” Ziggs said reminiscing of all the good times spent blowing his enemy’s away on the battlefield.

“That’s what we like to hear,” Ypsilan cheered.

   He handed Ziggs the test Ezreal had finished. I was clearly not Ziggs exam but a version modified by Heimerdinger. This made Ziggs nervous for a few moments until he corrected the paper. Ezreal somehow passed it flawlessly.

A few days later, Abigail released Ziggs from her care. With no place to go Ziggs set up a place to sleep in his office. Ziggs did not mind this at all. He enjoyed being able to do his research, and work on his bombs without having to leave his office to go home.

One night while working, he decided to get something out of the cafeteria to eat. He walked the cold dark halls of the institute. Even when dark and deserted, the institute felt alive and inviting.

Ziggs rummaged around in the pantry trying to find something sweet to eat. The quiet stillness of the academy made every noise audible in most areas of the academy’s office building. Ziggs thought he heard footsteps coming from upstairs.

Ziggs had mad the assumption that Heimerdinger was also here late and went to see if he wanted something to eat. Heimerdinger even worse than Ziggs about skipping meals when in the pursuit of something that interests him.

Ziggs scarfed down some cookies, and made his way to Heimerdinger’s office a few for him. Ziggs heard unfamiliar voices coming from down the hall. Ziggs found this unusual; Heimerdinger rarely has visitors this late. As a rule, students are not allowed in the headquarters unattended. The voices sounded young and hasty.

“Probably a gang of students trying to get at Heimerdinger’s test answers,” Ziggs assumed.

Ziggs crept silently down the hall of the second floor. Until he could hear the voices clearly.

“I thought you said this is where the blueprints would be?” A young male voice said.

“I said he works here. I fallowed Pretty Face, and the Mr. Goggles to this building. I saw them go into this room. I know he works here with the Mr. Goggles.” Said a familiar voice. Ziggs could recognize it from anywhere. “I know he has Fishbones here and when I find him Ill really show him the meaning of the word, BOOM!”

Ziggs had to think quickly. He hid in a lab next to Heimerdinger’s office. He heard the two rummaging around in the office. Ziggs stood there in the dark, his earing tagged, catlike ear pressed firmly against the laboratory wall. Ziggs considered his options as he started nibbling on a cookie he had on hand.

He had to catch them before they got away. Taking the small star rod he had in his pocket and turned it on. Ziggs looked around and found a closest full of containers holding amber. The same stuff he used to patch a hole, when he stole Jinx’s Fishbones and crashed through the institute’s roof flying away from her.

“This could trap them.” Ziggs thought to himself. He took the canisters and carefully syphoned the contents into an airtight container. Being very careful not to make a sound, all while listening intently at the kids conversation.

“I can’t believe, you ran into him twice and you never got him to spill the location of the big bombs..” the strange voice, “I am surprised the Pig Man’s men haven’t stolen it yet. I hear Noxus would pay a lot for one of Ziggs Mega Bombs.”

“So why are we looking for….” Jinx was interrupted by the voice of child. One Ziggs remembered from the docs.

“There is a basement,” said the little girl, “but you have to walk a long ways to get down there.”

“I TOLD YOU NOT TO GO RUNNING OFF, LEIA!” The boy yelled.

“WELL WE ARNT GOING TO FIND ANYTHING IF WE STICK TOGEATHER, COREY,” Leia shouted back.

“WHY ARE WE YELLING, THE SECURITY BOTS WILL HEAR US!” Jinx shouted.

Ziggs had completely forgotten about the security system. He stopped in his tracks for a moment wondering if he should push the red emergency button located by the doorway.

“Naa’ I’m all the security this places needs.” Ziggs said to himself.

He had quickly fashioned the amber canisters into grenades, meant to spray amber and trap the thieves.   Before Ziggs could get to them, a security bot rolled down the hallway.

“Intruder! Prepare to be detained! Intruder!” The bot repeated itself.

“Damn we triggered it.” Corey said.

Ziggs heart sank; he really wanted to test his amber grenades out on the kids.

“I FOUND HIM!!!!” Jinx shrieked excitedly.

Heimerdinger had stashed Jinx’s gun deep in the closet of his office, not thinking that it would need a better hiding spot. For a genius he may be, his focus and forethought can be absent sometimes.

There came a loud explosion in the direction of the security bot. Jinx had fired a rocket straight at the bot.

“Prepare…Pre….P…Prepare,” The heavily damaged bot stuttered as sparks flew from its broken frame.

“Come one let’s get to the basement before they catch us.” Cory told them.

Ziggs snickered; he knew what they were looking for. A bomb so dangerous that the Institute of War banned its use on both the rift, and anywhere else in Valoran. This has not kept the enemies of Piltover from trying to get a hold of it. It is a bomb so powerful it could destroy and entire city. Such a weapon could destroy Valoran. This is why all information of such a weapon is under intense surveillance inside Piltover’s, Central Tower, and in the head of one destructive yordle.

“What are these kids up to,” Ziggs pondered to himself. “What would a gang of punks want with my nuke?”

The curious yordle fallowed the kids into his office, amber grenades ready to catch the young intruders.

“Wait,” Cory told them.

This made Ziggs freeze in his tracks. Did they know he was there?

“You go on down stairs. There is a medical lab on the top floor. I want to get some medical supplies for home.” Cory told them.

“Oh, what do we need those for?” Jinx jeered.

“Shouldn’t we stay together?” Leia asked.

“You know what to look for,” Cory told them, “we need the kits for the riot.”

The group mad it to the staircase and separated. The girls went down and Cory climbed up. Ziggs fallowed the girls to his office

“Why is everything so small here?” Leia asked.

“The place is run by little people.” Jinx told her.

“You mean Yordles?” Leia “I met two of those a week ago.”

“That’s what they call ‘em.” Jinx said reaching

Leia read the sign that read Office of Ziggs. She gave Jinx a funny look.

“I don’t believe you,” she told Jinx, “The man who blew the Pigg Man’s building, was one of those cute little furry things.”

Leia started to giggle at the thought. At this point Ziggs had enough.

“How is this for cute,” Ziggs taunted as he tossed three gooey amber traps at the girls. The amber expanded quickly and incased them both in a solid crystalline casing from the neck down.

Leia screamed, but they were too far down for Corey to hear her.

Jinx struggled. “Oh, Ekko isn’t going to like this.”

“If he wanted this so bad why didn’t he come get it himself,” Leia said. The little girl pouted.

“What are you up to?” Ziggs asked Leia, “and why do you keep fallowing me?” Ziggs asked Jinx.

“You will never get us to talk.” Jinx taunted.

“I don’t want you to talk,” Ziggs was angry and more than a little insulted. “I want you to leave me alone.”

“Ziggs are you down there?” Yelled Caitlin’s voice from the top of the staircase. “Did you set off the security alarm?”

“No, why don’t you come down here and put your mad gunner away for once.” Ziggs yelled.

“I found this one on the top floor!” Vi announced. She walked down the stairs dragging Cory by the scruff of his trench coat. The boy had his hair shaved short with only blue bangs sprouting from his head.

They cut the two girls out of the amber and took all three of them into their custody. Ziggs felt relieved that his stalker was finally going away.

Description

The Adventures of the Yordle Institute;
Ch 5: Dream of a Vagabond

Ziggs found himself in a grassy meadow somewhere far from Piltover. It was warm, like a midsummer’s night, unlike the cold ending of winter Piltover was in now. The stars shrouded the navy sky, unhindered by unnatural light, as was the firefly’s that tried to imitate them in the grass.

Ziggs felt no pain; he had quickly forgotten the trouble he had been in, in favor of identifying where he was now. He peeked above the grass and found the silhouette of Ezreal standing in front of a massive skyscraper of a tree. Ezreal’s gauntlet, a relic of the past and the source of his magic, was glowing effortlessly.

This to Ziggs, meant the area was full of mana. The great ancient tree that towered before the two and was as tall as Piltover’s central tower if not taller. Its trunk was just as massive as it was tall, the bark look strong as steal, and the leaves were a bioluminescent teal. It had an aura around it, but it had been fading for some time. The tree was slowly dying. The trunk of the tree was glowing red and orange as if it was burning from the inside out. Both Ezreal and Ziggs could feel the great trees pain but did not understand why it worried them.

“Where are we?” Ziggs asked.

Ezreal shook his head and opened his mouth to speak. Before he could get the words out a loud bang came from the tree. Bark of the tree had exploded leaving the already wood underneath exposed. A massive hole, the size of a cathedral door, burned its way into the tree. Both youths jumped at the loud noise. They stood in silence helplessly as the ancient tree burned.

“I don’t know,” Ezreal said with a fearful tone in his voice. “A dream? I have these a lot, but I’ve never shared them with anyone.”

Suddenly, they heard a sound from behind, like a low rumble of a horn that climbed in pitch until it sounded like a whistle.

A strange being, passed the two urgently racing towards the tree. He looked like an old vagabond waring faded gipsy clothing, and a beard that seemed to cover anything-resembling identifiable features. One horn sprouted from his head and his face covered with a mask with three holes.

The celestial being casted a powerful spell and the giant tree glowed a bright gold color. The celestial had put it in a stasis; the flames froze in time. The entity looked at Ezreal and Ziggs and trumpeted them a warning.

Then the dream simply ended.

_________________________________________________________________________

Ziggs awoke in more pain than he remembered arriving with. He woke up in the hospital face down on a sterile smelling pillow. He thought about rolling over, but evaluating his pain decided against it. Instead, he let out a grown and rested on his chin. His eye now free to look around the infirmary.

Ezreal was laying on a cot across from his. The boy was stirring his expression, confused. He had forgotten where he was. He sat up and looked in Ziggs detraction. The sight of the injured yordle jogged his memory.

“What did you see?” Abigail asked from the corner of the dimly lit room.



“Wh-?” Ezreal failed to finish.

Abigail had overheard them talking. She knew this was of great importance and tried to explain this to them.

“Don’t play dumb with me. Dreams are only shared, when the celestials drag you both into it,” the old yordles voice cracked. “What did you both see?”

Ezreal and Ziggs both looked at each other. Remembering dreams is hard, but the images were fresh in both youth’s heads.

“Quickly! Before the dream fads.” Abigail ordered.

“There was a tree, a really big tree,” Ziggs remembered.

“Was it burning?” Ezreal tried to confirm that they did in fact share a dream.

“Yep,” Ziggs confirmed. “That’s about it, Can I got back to bed now?”

Ziggs head was pounding; he tried to find a cool spot on his pillow but his fur was to warm.

“What happened to the tree?” Abigail probed.

“Something came a put it into a stasis.” Ezreal explained. He had never seen a stasis spell in person but had done enough research on it to understand what it was. “I think it was trying to tell us something, but he only made odd noises.”

“Hmmm” Abigail heard there bizarre tail ad began righting it down.

“Ziggs, when you visit Freljord I will have you visit the Ursine tribe.” Abigail ordered. “They would be very interested in your dream.”

“Why what did it mean?” Ziggs asked.

“I don’t know.” Abigail told him honestly. “I just know it does. The Ursine know a lot about dreams. They will know how to interpret them.”

Abigail has a long relationship with the Ursine. The infections and diseases that yordles are plagued with often effect Ursine as well. Abigail had allied with the Ursine when the same plague that had affected the yordles also struck the bear tribes. Abigail saved the tribes with the same antidote she had used in Bandle.

“I will send them a note before you leave telling who to look out for.” Abigail told them.

Ziggs was starting to get restless. He sat up ignoring his sore body.

“Well, I gotta get back to work.” Ziggs rolled out of bed.

“Ziggs, you’re not leaving,” Abigail told him sternly. She gave him her famous death stare. The scowl was strong enough to cool even the manic Ziggs. With drooped ears, he quickly got back into bed.

Even though Ziggs wound healed magically; it still took time for the muscles, nerves, and veins to connect properly. It also took a lot of energy for the wound to heal fast making anyone feel drained, small yordles even more so. Ziggs mind would never accept his feeling of exhaustion.

Ziggs looks at Ezreal who was now laughing quietly at the pussy wiped professor. Abigail’s gaze quickly turned to Ezreal who quickly stopped.

“Will you get me a few things?” Ziggs asked restlessly. “I have a few blueprints and I wonna’ work on em’. If I’m going to be stuck here a while. Might as well work on those prints.”

Ezreal gave him a hesitant expression, not forgetting the trick Ziggs had played on him in the lab.

“Why should I?” Ezreal looked at Ziggs through untrusting eyes.

“You want a make-up exam or not?” Ziggs lorded over Ezreal.

Ezreal rolled his eyes, “What do you need me to get?”

“Just a few blueprints and paperwork for the substitute for my classes.” Ziggs clarified. “Just grab the gray file cabinet by my writing desk. It should have my exam out line in it. The non-explosive one.” Ziggs chuckled.

Ziggs gave him directions to his loft and Ezreal drew a map to it. Ezreal left the room promising he would return with the filing cabinet.

Ziggs watched him leave already anxiously waiting for his return.

“Have you dreamed like this before, Ziggs?” Abigale asked earnestly.

“Why? Er…” Ziggs remembered the dream he had about Halley and the stars. He told Abigail everything he could remember. Abigail listened stone-faced to Ziggs dream.

“I think it would be a good Idea to share this with Halley.” Abigail said.

_________________________________________________________________________



Ezreal walked out of the hospital in the direction the rough and ready map told him to go in. The sun was bright; Ezreal had to squint in order to adjust his eyes to the light. The air was still cold but not cold enough to keep the puddles in the street frozen. Winter was disappearing into spring but it was only just starting to warm up.

He walked a while until he came to the building where the loft was supposed to be. Ezreal saw a bed and a writing desk thrown by the street. Ezreal climbed the stairs to Ziggs room.

The door was gone.

Ezreal did not know if he should be surprised at this or not. He shrugged and walked in. The room inside was empty no papers or filing cabinets could be found. When he turned to leave, he found an eviction notice pined next to the doorway.

The eviction notice was for Ziggs, on the grounds of “Destructive Mischief”.

Ezreal took the paper off the wall and went down to see the woman who owned the building in her shop.

Ezreal walked into the fancy hats shop. It was full of hats he often saw people of “high society” wear.

“Um, hi.” Ezreal started.

“Oh Hello! How are you doing today?” The middle-aged lady in the pink hat asked. “Is there anything I can help you find?”

“Well,” Ez tried again.

“Oh aren’t you a cute one.” The woman said looking over the youth. “Here try this one on.”

The lady grabbed a brown top hat with gears under a ribbon and perched it on top of Ezreal’s head. The women gave him a coy smile. This made Ezreal feel uncomfortable.

“I am here to get Ziggs filing cabinet,” Ezreal said quickly. Hoping this would get him out of this shop fast.

“Oh that nuisance.” the lady exasperated. “I got tired of the damage he causes. I found his door blasted it off the hinges, and he just left it on the ground. That micro bastard is a fire hazard.”

“So… Do you have the cabinet?” Ezreal asked again.

    “I lefty everything out on the street.” The lady said.

“Aren’t you being a bit harsh?” Ezreal asked.

The lady sighed and pursed her lips. “Young man, never rent to a yordle. Now,” She took the hat from Ezreal’s head. “Fifty gold get you this hat.” She smiled as she held the hat next to her face.

“No thanks,” Ezreal said with a disappointed expression on his face. How is he going to pass Ziggs class now? How long would he have to wait for funding if he did not pass that demand test?

Ezreal was determined to find Ziggs cabinet. Ezreal left the building and proceeded to look on the street for the cabinet. He looked around the writing desk and found a filing cabinet setting underneath. He opened it and found it was full of papers. The papers disheveled and out of place. Ezreal picked it up and filled it with papers and supplies from Ziggs desk.

He made his way back to the hospital. He had made half way to his destination when he had an uneasy feeling as if being fallowed. It was bright out so Ezreal decided to use the main streets. The wide-open spaces allowed Ezreal more awareness of his surroundings. As a Marksman in the League. Awareness of his soundings was an important skill to have. The street was crowded however, so Ezreal could not see his shadower. He had made it to the hospital but the feeling never left. Ezreal turned around before entering the hospital and in an alleyway, he thought he could see three kids looking his way.

Ezreal entered the room with a nervous look on his face. There were other yordles in the room visiting Ziggs. Ezreal cannot remember a time where he has seen a yordle alone. They seemed overwhelmingly social to him. Abigail was still there. Heimerdinger and Halley arrived a short time after Ezreal had left.

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“What took you so long?” The restless yordle grumbled.

Ezreal did not know what to say. He set the cabinet on the nightstand beside the bed and handed the notice to Ziggs.

“OH, FUCK!” Ziggs exclaimed reading over the eviction letter.

“Watch your language in my hospital.” Abigail barked.

Ziggs looked over the note. “It wasn’t even me who blew the door off this time.”

“Maybe this will teach you a lesson in serenity” Heimerdinger chimed in. “Your Manic behavior will get you kill one day.”

“I don’t do anything! Things just happen to me.” Ziggs debated

“Everything that has happened to you is a direct result of a decision you have made. Whether you admit to it or not.” Heimerdinger said.

His expression was unchanging. “Now, let’s talk about that dream.”

“I don’t feel like it.” Ziggs said feeling frustrated with all the bad luck he has been having lately.

“Now is not the time to be difficult Ziggs,” Abigail told him. “The celestials are trying to tell you something. You just don’t ignore something like that.”

“There are many multi-dimensional realms attached to this world, Ziggs.” Heimerdinger started to lecture. “The dimensions that govern magic are in there own world entirely. When something in this world is thrown out of balance this sends ripples through all of these realms.”

“From what Abigail has told me, I hypothesize that the celestial realm is warning you of something.” Heimerdinger explained further.

“Why? Why me? Sure it wasn’t meant for golden boy over there?” Ziggs pointed to the blond haired Ezreal.

Ezreal reluctant to comment, simply shrugged his shoulders. He wished that he could simply walk out the door. Unfortunately, he had to wait for Ziggs to give his makeup exam. Ezreal never wanted to be the golden anything. All he wanted to do is to explore and make maps.

“Ziggs we shared a dream too.” Halley. “I think all of us are involved.”

“Why us?” Ziggs asked calming down. He had forgotten Halley was there she was quietly reading everyone lips.

“I think it’s our work on the essence build up.” Halley told him. “I didn’t think it was that bad but maybe it is. The stars are warning us of something.” Halley said earnestly.

“You think that thing me and Ezreal saw was a celestial?” Ziggs asked Heimerdinger. “Because he really seemed like something out of a fever dream to me.”

“Celestials have power over the dream realm.” Halley explained. “Every dream you have is a connotation given by the stars. If a celestial being appears to you that means it wants you to do something.”

“Ziggs again, I implore you to go seek the advice of the Ursine.” Abigail reiterated. “They should know what the dream meant.”

“I already said I would go.” Ziggs reminded them, “and if you want my exam you will have to agree to go to come with me.” Ziggs looked up at Ezreal and handed his paw for him to shake. Ezreal, forced to concede to Ziggs demand, and shook his paw.

“When can I get out of here?” Ziggs asked Abigail.

“When the hair one your scare starts to grows back.” Abigail explained, “That means the healing under the skin is complete.”

Ziggs patted his back; the patch of fur was still missing. He moaned to himself and turned his attention to the filling cabinet Ezreal had brought. He started flipping through the papers until he came to the final exam. Ziggs took it out and looked it over. Making sure it was for the right class, and then handed it to Heimerdinger.

“We should hear back from the institute of war for the approval for our research.” Halley said.

“The expedition is still slated for July.” Heimerdinger reminded Ziggs. “You should be well by then, right Abigail?”

“The healing process should only take a week for Ziggs.” Abigail said, “Healing fast is one of the perks of being young.”

“Will you give this Ezreal back at the academy?” Ziggs asked Heimerdinger.

Heimerdinger looked over the test. Heimerdinger quickly looked at Ziggs than look at Ezreal then back at the exam.

“This is an exam?” Heimerdinger belittled.

“Yeah, meant for undergrads, not for you.” Ziggs retorted.

Heimerdinger is notorious for giving some of the hardest exams. Ziggs is much more lenient to his students.

“Right then,” Heimerdinger said ignoring Ziggs remark. “Care to join me at my lab, Ezreal?”

“Yes sir,” Ezreal said grateful for his second chance.

The two left the room.

Hours passed and Ypsilan poked his head through the door.

“Here is Ezreal’s exam. I am so glade you changed your mind Ziggs you won’t regret this.” Ypsilan said appreciatively.” This will really help me a lot.”

“I didn’t do it for you,” Ziggs clarified, “The kid saved me.”

“That kid will do a lot more for us once we get him in the ice caves.” Ypsilan said excited.

“Ice caves?” Ziggs was confused, “I thought we were going straight to the rift?”

“And the Howling Abysses.” Ypsilan told Ziggs, “The only way to get to these places is through ice caves. You wouldn’t know this because the magic summons you straight to the base.”

Ziggs never thought of how the summoners got to the rift themselves. He always thought they just teleported themselves there as well.

“Well, if I can’t blow up a mountain, might as well blow some holes on the rift. You know, for science.” Ziggs said reminiscing of all the good times spent blowing his enemy’s away on the battlefield.

“That’s what we like to hear,” Ypsilan cheered.

   He handed Ziggs the test Ezreal had finished. I was clearly not Ziggs exam but a version modified by Heimerdinger. This made Ziggs nervous for a few moments until he corrected the paper. Ezreal somehow passed it flawlessly.

A few days later, Abigail released Ziggs from her care. With no place to go Ziggs set up a place to sleep in his office. Ziggs did not mind this at all. He enjoyed being able to do his research, and work on his bombs without having to leave his office to go home.

One night while working, he decided to get something out of the cafeteria to eat. He walked the cold dark halls of the institute. Even when dark and deserted, the institute felt alive and inviting.

Ziggs rummaged around in the pantry trying to find something sweet to eat. The quiet stillness of the academy made every noise audible in most areas of the academy’s office building. Ziggs thought he heard footsteps coming from upstairs.

Ziggs had mad the assumption that Heimerdinger was also here late and went to see if he wanted something to eat. Heimerdinger even worse than Ziggs about skipping meals when in the pursuit of something that interests him.

Ziggs scarfed down some cookies, and made his way to Heimerdinger’s office a few for him. Ziggs heard unfamiliar voices coming from down the hall. Ziggs found this unusual; Heimerdinger rarely has visitors this late. As a rule, students are not allowed in the headquarters unattended. The voices sounded young and hasty.

“Probably a gang of students trying to get at Heimerdinger’s test answers,” Ziggs assumed.

Ziggs crept silently down the hall of the second floor. Until he could hear the voices clearly.

“I thought you said this is where the blueprints would be?” A young male voice said.

“I said he works here. I fallowed Pretty Face, and the Mr. Goggles to this building. I saw them go into this room. I know he works here with the Mr. Goggles.” Said a familiar voice. Ziggs could recognize it from anywhere. “I know he has Fishbones here and when I find him Ill really show him the meaning of the word, BOOM!”

Ziggs had to think quickly. He hid in a lab next to Heimerdinger’s office. He heard the two rummaging around in the office. Ziggs stood there in the dark, his earing tagged, catlike ear pressed firmly against the laboratory wall. Ziggs considered his options as he started nibbling on a cookie he had on hand.

He had to catch them before they got away. Taking the small star rod he had in his pocket and turned it on. Ziggs looked around and found a closest full of containers holding amber. The same stuff he used to patch a hole, when he stole Jinx’s Fishbones and crashed through the institute’s roof flying away from her.

“This could trap them.” Ziggs thought to himself. He took the canisters and carefully syphoned the contents into an airtight container. Being very careful not to make a sound, all while listening intently at the kids conversation.

“I can’t believe, you ran into him twice and you never got him to spill the location of the big bombs..” the strange voice, “I am surprised the Pig Man’s men haven’t stolen it yet. I hear Noxus would pay a lot for one of Ziggs Mega Bombs.”

“So why are we looking for….” Jinx was interrupted by the voice of child. One Ziggs remembered from the docs.

“There is a basement,” said the little girl, “but you have to walk a long ways to get down there.”

“I TOLD YOU NOT TO GO RUNNING OFF, LEIA!” The boy yelled.

“WELL WE ARNT GOING TO FIND ANYTHING IF WE STICK TOGEATHER, COREY,” Leia shouted back.

“WHY ARE WE YELLING, THE SECURITY BOTS WILL HEAR US!” Jinx shouted.

Ziggs had completely forgotten about the security system. He stopped in his tracks for a moment wondering if he should push the red emergency button located by the doorway.

“Naa’ I’m all the security this places needs.” Ziggs said to himself.

He had quickly fashioned the amber canisters into grenades, meant to spray amber and trap the thieves.   Before Ziggs could get to them, a security bot rolled down the hallway.

“Intruder! Prepare to be detained! Intruder!” The bot repeated itself.

“Damn we triggered it.” Corey said.

Ziggs heart sank; he really wanted to test his amber grenades out on the kids.

“I FOUND HIM!!!!” Jinx shrieked excitedly.

Heimerdinger had stashed Jinx’s gun deep in the closet of his office, not thinking that it would need a better hiding spot. For a genius he may be, his focus and forethought can be absent sometimes.

There came a loud explosion in the direction of the security bot. Jinx had fired a rocket straight at the bot.

“Prepare…Pre….P…Prepare,” The heavily damaged bot stuttered as sparks flew from its broken frame.

“Come one let’s get to the basement before they catch us.” Cory told them.

Ziggs snickered; he knew what they were looking for. A bomb so dangerous that the Institute of War banned its use on both the rift, and anywhere else in Valoran. This has not kept the enemies of Piltover from trying to get a hold of it. It is a bomb so powerful it could destroy and entire city. Such a weapon could destroy Valoran. This is why all information of such a weapon is under intense surveillance inside Piltover’s, Central Tower, and in the head of one destructive yordle.

“What are these kids up to,” Ziggs pondered to himself. “What would a gang of punks want with my nuke?”

The curious yordle fallowed the kids into his office, amber grenades ready to catch the young intruders.

“Wait,” Cory told them.

This made Ziggs freeze in his tracks. Did they know he was there?

“You go on down stairs. There is a medical lab on the top floor. I want to get some medical supplies for home.” Cory told them.

“Oh, what do we need those for?” Jinx jeered.

“Shouldn’t we stay together?” Leia asked.

“You know what to look for,” Cory told them, “we need the kits for the riot.”

The group mad it to the staircase and separated. The girls went down and Cory climbed up. Ziggs fallowed the girls to his office

“Why is everything so small here?” Leia asked.

“The place is run by little people.” Jinx told her.

“You mean Yordles?” Leia “I met two of those a week ago.”

“That’s what they call ‘em.” Jinx said reaching

Leia read the sign that read Office of Ziggs. She gave Jinx a funny look.

“I don’t believe you,” she told Jinx, “The man who blew the Pigg Man’s building, was one of those cute little furry things.”

Leia started to giggle at the thought. At this point Ziggs had enough.

“How is this for cute,” Ziggs taunted as he tossed three gooey amber traps at the girls. The amber expanded quickly and incased them both in a solid crystalline casing from the neck down.

Leia screamed, but they were too far down for Corey to hear her.

Jinx struggled. “Oh, Ekko isn’t going to like this.”

“If he wanted this so bad why didn’t he come get it himself,” Leia said. The little girl pouted.

“What are you up to?” Ziggs asked Leia, “and why do you keep fallowing me?” Ziggs asked Jinx.

“You will never get us to talk.” Jinx taunted.

“I don’t want you to talk,” Ziggs was angry and more than a little insulted. “I want you to leave me alone.”

“Ziggs are you down there?” Yelled Caitlin’s voice from the top of the staircase. “Did you set off the security alarm?”

“No, why don’t you come down here and put your mad gunner away for once.” Ziggs yelled.

“I found this one on the top floor!” Vi announced. She walked down the stairs dragging Cory by the scruff of his trench coat. The boy had his hair shaved short with only blue bangs sprouting from his head.

They cut the two girls out of the amber and took all three of them into their custody. Ziggs felt relieved that his stalker was finally going away.