Ionian Nights- Part 7

Part 6

###Part 7

---

Eight hours since leaving the Chamber of the Council...

"And exactly when were you going to tell me that the deity of the sky and storms actually existed in Ionia?" Ryota angrily questioned. Karma, Ryota, Master Yi, Wukong, Soraka and Utsusemimaru were all making the long trek up one of Ionia's tallest mountains. Thankfully the path was actually very well-made so there was no manner of actual hiking or mountain-climbing. Many knew of this mountain, the top having an ancient stone platform from some monastery that had moved long ago. Only about six people in all of Ionia knew it's legitimate purpose and coincidentally all six of them were traveling up to this platform as they spoke.

Karma sighed to herself, having to deal with Ryota's aggressive words the entire time. "Ryota, the people of Ionia must have some things kept secret. Had Noxus known that Ao Shin roamed the skies of Ionia, it's very likely they would have tried to kill him. As I said before, I've submitted his application for League approval so that we can both reveal his existence as well as keep him safe from possible assassination attempts...exactly what we're dealing with at this moment," Karma finished, the only noise asides their voices were the soft clops of Soraka's hooves on stone.

"Because denying the existence of a literal god is always how things are accomplished," Ryota snorted, Karma giving him an enraged glare. She was far done with this argument and, while his aggravation was understandable, the constant reaffirming about how furious he was didn't fall under "understandable" in the slightest.

To break the tension Wukong spoke up, clearing his throat. "Sooooooooo why exactly do you need Utsus...utsusem....Utsusemimaru, myself and Yi? Soraka I can get, she's queen of stars and such or something magical like that and Ryota is big man on council now. But us three?"

Yi was able to answer this question. "Pupil, I have known of Ao Shin's existence for quite some time, as has Soraka. Karma has a special reason for asking you to join us, however, so I implore that you keep your questioning to a minimum." Wukong was hardly satisfied with Yi's answer but at least he got something out of it.

The group of six walked in silence for the last half-hour of their journey before reaching the mighty stone platform. Karma beckoned everyone to follow her to the side while Soraka moved to the edge. The air was thin here, making breathing a bit of a struggle while the mountaintop stood high-and-above most of Ionia. A carpet of clouds blocked one's view, broken only by tall mountains and the occasional tip of a mighty building. There were pockets of open views due to breaks in the clouds but, otherwise, they seemed to be atop the world. "Absolute silence, please," Soraka requested. Everyone nodded, standing to the side as Soraka neared the edge of the platform.

Slowly, Soraka began to wave her staff in long and exaggerated swings. As she did this, she moved along with her staff, the only sound being that of her hooves hitting stone. The more she performed this ceremonial dance, the more the clouds seemed to shift and change. It was as if clouds were appearing from thin air (pardon the pun) as the mountaintop became shrouded. Soon even the evening sun was blotted out by these hefty clouds, a soft darkness covering the top. After a few more rotations and ceremonial "dancing", Soraka placed her staff into the ground and knelt before it. "Deity of the storms, guardian of nature, please hear my call and grace me with your arrival!" Soraka shouted into the darkness around them. For the longest time there was naught but silence and the damp stench of ozone all around them.

And then, he appeared.

At first it was just a single, long segment of his body arching through the darkness. It was difficult to make out thanks to the black-and-gold of his scales, but the arching azure lightning drew one's attention to it. The longer the time went, more and more segments appeared, each one twisting and curving through the sky. He seemed enormous, far larger thanks to the encroaching storm and just how he chose to reveal himself. The loud crackle of thunder shook the ground around them as the long form of Ao Shin snaked through the clouds much like a boa slides through tall grass.

Finally, his might head broke through the dark clouds around them. Electrical waves crackled softly, arching through his horns and mighty blue mane. He placed two mighty claws on the edge of the edge of the platform as he knelt his head down, inspecting Soraka to make sure that this was indeed the real Mistress of Stars. Once assured, however, he knelt his head down. With a single casual wave of his claw the sky seemed to quiet, the storm dissipating with a mere wave of his claw. "Maiden of Stars, I have heard your call. It is good to see you once more. Arise," He said in his booming voice. Soraka nodded, gently pushing herself off the ground.

"What is it you require, Child of Stars? I am quite preoccupied with my protection of Ionia's skies," Ao Shin spoke, much of his body still covered by storm clouds as the group watched him. A god in the flesh (scales?) before them, only interested in Soraka for the time being. Which made sense, considering Soraka was nearly a deity herself despite her fall from immortal godhood.

Soraka cleared her throat and bowed once more. "Ao Shin, noble guardian, we request your aid in reaching the castle in the sky. Syndra, as you may be aware, sails through your domain out of our reach. Humbly, we beg you to grant us passage through the skies so that we may find her and bring her to justice."

One mighty obsidian claw was brought to Ao Shin's lips, gently tapping his mighty mane. "How...boring. I must say, Soraka, why you associate with these mortals does make me wonder. We should guard nature, not involve ourselves with the petty struggles of those who would destroy themselves and this world," with that, Ao Shin sighed heavily. "But, as you have requested my aid, I shall help you for my usual bargain."

Soraka nodded, turning to the group. "Karma?" Karma returned her nod to Soraka, the two exchanging places as the duchess moved to the edge of the platform. Graciously she bowed to the mighty dragon, Ao Shin returning her bow with a gentle nod of his head.

"Aaaaah, Karma. One of the few humans who I enjoy in this world. I trust you remember my price for assisting you in your endeavors?" Ao Shin questioned, his tone far less respectful and far more jovial when dealing with Karma compared to Soraka. As much as he seemed to enjoy her presence, Karma was clearly a lesser to him. Then again, he and Karma were nowhere near the same level when it came to Soraka in terms of position. Duchess or not, she certainly wasn't a god.

"Yes, god of skies. You shall aid us as long as we show you something fascinating from below your domain," Karma reiterated. Ao Shin nodded, pleased that Karma had remembered the terms of assistance when it came to what the deity desired in exchange for their request. At the very least it was a somewhat reasonable request.

Almost comically Ao Shin crossed his claws, as if sitting in a dignified manner thousands of feet above the sky. "Well then, let us begin. Show me all these fascinating things you keep below the sky!" Ao Shin boomed, ready to be impressed with whatever the group had brought. Karma nodded, beckoning Wukong forward. Yi nudged his pupil, the monkey king taking gallant and large steps forward.

"Dearest Ao Shin, behold Wukong. Not only is he a sentient, human-like ape but he has been trained in the ways of Master Yi's art, Wuju. You-" Mid-sentence as Karma spoke, Ao Shin let out a thunderous and quite comical yawn, making Karma stop in her tracks as the dragon seemed almost sleepy.

Wukong too seemed surprised, considering only one of him existed to everyone's knowledge. "Yes, yes, I have seen your kind before. Not many in a while but I do remember your kind. As...interesting...as he may be to you, to me he's just one of many. Like any other human," Lazily, Ao Shin dragged his claw upwards, shooing the two. Wukong stepped forward, clearly wanting to talk and know more about his people but Karma stopped him with a hand on the upper arm.

She beckoned Wukong back. "Trust me, he won't show you a thing," She said. As she spoke, Ryota stepped forward, unsheathing his blade and bowing to Ao Shin. Karma was surprised, almost assured that Ryota would find Ao Shin far more arrogant and infuriating than worthy of respect.

"Behold, Ao Shin, the burning blade of the Ionian Shogun. Since Ionia was founded this mighty blade-"

"Has been passed down the line of military leaders, some say it's a feather of Trajador himself, so on and so forth." Ao Shin interrupted. Ryota was clearly aggregated but, instead, he knelt down.

"I beg of you, your lordship, Ionia needs your cooperation in this matter. Many days ago members of our council were assassinated or kidnapped and we believe one of the perpetrators of this foul act hides in your domain. We must gain passage or else she will walk free!"

Ao Shin stared at the kneeling figure in armor for quite a long time before finally speaking: "Is that what passes for interesting on the ground these days? I must say, you are beginning to put me to sleep with these incredibly uninteresting facts."

Finally, Ryota snapped, jabbing a finger at Ao Shin. "You are a defender of Ionia! A guardian of nature!" He declared, seething.

Rather than furious, Ao Shin seemed to just roll his massive eyes. "Dear human, I am a guardian of Ionia and nature. Nowhere does it say I have to involve myself in your little petty arguments, despite Karma insisting I join your little organization of humans to keep myself safe," The dragon scoffed.

Karma turned to Ryota, the latter pretty much fuming in his armor. "If you are all done, it appears that you have nothing of-" Ao Shin paused, mid-sentence. His nostrils flared, breathing deeply. "What....is that smell...." He snorted again and again. Finally, his large eyes flew to Utsusemimaru. "You, boy, come here."

Utsusemimaru was clearly nervous about being picked out specifically by the god of skies. "Don't be shy, little one, I won't hurt you..." Very carefully, Utsusemimaru took small steps toward the dragon. Not close enough, he beckoned again, and again, and again. Finally the poor young monk was right in Ao Shin's face. He swallowed all the spit in his throat as Ao Shin's snout pressed forward. Utsusemimaru's hair and clothing shuttered wildly as Ao Shin breathed deeply of his "smell".

"Hm...you bear my mark...but.." He breathed again, shaking the monk where he stood. "You also bear the mark of Kirin...and the Leviathan...and Trajadaor..." Ao Shin backed off of Utsusemimaru, grinning with his large snout. "It has been many centuries, but I have finally seen an Aspect with my own eyes..."

Utsusemimaru took a step back, giving a confused look. "Aspect? No no, I'm a decent monk but-"

Ao Shin laughed, a boisterous laugh that shook the stone they stood on. "None have told you of your status as an aspect? And you're how old!? Karma, you always find ways to amuse me! Fantastically done, especially for a human!" At this, Utsusemimaru turned to Karma for an explanation. Karma sighed softly, shaking her head.

"Utsusemimaru, you know qi, right? Well, every single man, woman and child of Ionia bears ties to the mythical creatures that roam our world. Some, like Udyr, can manifest their ties to the spiritual world if they have a strong connection to the powerful spirit," Karma began, Utsusemimaru shaking his head.

"No No I know that Karma. But my tie is with Ao Shin, right?"

Again, Karma shook her head. "You bear ties to Ao Shin, Trajador, Leviathan, even Kirin. You, Utsusemimaru, bear ties to the four greatest spirits in all of Ionia," Utsusemimaru took a step back, eyes wide with shock. "I didn't want to tell you, Utsusemimaru. Being an Aspect is a lot to-"

"And you wait THAT long to tell him? AH! Karma, you know very well he has only a few good years left in him!" Ao Shin was practically causing a thunderstorm with his laughter. Utsusemimaru again turned to Karma, who sighed.

"He is...right. Your lifespan is about one-tenth of anyone else. Your qi will...quite literally tear your body apart," Karma looked directly at Utsusemimaru as she said this. He wasn't sad, he wasn't angry. Rather, he looked utterly betrayed. Karma stared softly at him, turning away. She would have told him when she felt he was ready but...that look. Those eyes. It's as if he had a dagger in his spine for years and she was only now telling him she had stabbed him.

"Ah, all this humor...but, a bargin is a bargin. You have shown me an aspect in the flesh for the first time and as such I shall grant you passage. That flying fortress is somewhere south of here. Do not fear: Your are given passage to walk upon my clouds. I eagerly await to see you again, Soraka, and I cannot what for whatever comedic little spectacle you have for me next time Karma!" As Ao Shin spoke, he sank back into his storm-clouds. Just as quickly as the black-and-gold dragon had appeared he vanished, the stars already risen on the edge of the sky.

Soraka was the first to try, taking a deep breath and placing one hoof off the edge. Rather than fall thousands of feet to her demise, the cloud miraculously supported her. "As he said, Ao Shin has given us passage. Let us hurry before he changes his mind."

Utsusemimaru was the first to go running through the clouds. "Utsu-" Karma started but, sadly, he was already sprinting southward. "I didn't want to hurt him. I just...how do you tell a boy that he has a good four years to live?" Karma asked, turning to Yi. She wasn't crying or overly emotional, but from that sad sparkle of her eyes it was clear that this weighed heavily on her heart.

"A pupil, duchess, is one of the most delicate things to handle," Yi reached down, picking up a flower that had sprung up by the stone and delicately straightened it's petals. "If you take care with gentle hands and not deny them what they need, they will accept your teachings and grow. But, if you hide information, the weight will build and build until..." With that, Yi closed his hands around the flower, crushing it.

Karma shook her head as Ryota whistled at the two. Soraka and Wukong had already begun walking across the clouds, leaving just the two of them. "If you're about done with all your emotional metaphors?"

For the first time in her life, Karma legitimately considered pushing Ryota off the edge of a cliff.

End Part 7

Part 8