The Juggernaut Club: Part 44

Lux, Lucian and Quinn have arrived at Demacia, dragging the thrashed J4 by Valor's legs as the bird flies. True to what the King's letter had said, countless soldiers are seen in construction attire and are hard at work repairing the city's buildings, walls and other structures damaged by Sion's (Unintentional, due to Katarina being the one that angered him) rampage and Galio's efforts to stop said rampage. Lux, who was not in Piltover and thus did not see the happenings there, was unaware of this and thus is in awe at what she sees.

: Wow! Did the King order the entire army to do construction work?

: Yes, I said that already, back in Pilto- Oh that's right. You weren't there.

Fiora is seen standing at the entry gates.

: So, ze Prodigal Daughter has returned! And she brings vith her ze imbecile prince!

and : Prodigal Daughter?

Both look at one another in confusion. To which of them did this "Prodigal Daughter" thing refer to?

: Now wait a minute, I left Demacia on Prancibald here's orders. She gestures to J4 It wasn't an abandonment of my home country, it was at the behest of this so-called "Leader" here.

: I ran after my brother when you boneheads sentenced the "Crown of Stone" on him! That wasn't an abandonment either, I just wanted to see my bro one last time!

Both continue to bring up various things about how faithful they've been to Demacia despite their departure. However, Fiora doesn't pay any attention to the two with their queries regarding who the "Prodigal Daughter" refers to. She just turns her attention to Lucian and the thrashed J4.

: Excellent Vwork, Disciplinary Vone!

: It wasn't easy; I can tell you that.

: No doubt, no doubt. Ze King vill no doubt have a great revard vor you!

: What's with all these "no doubts"?

: Quiet. Enter!

The partially-fixed gates open at Fiora's word, and everyone walks inside.

: I vwould tell you more, but I have business to attend to. Vayne!

Vayne steps out of the shadows of a partially-repaired guard station.

: What?

: Take over.

Fiora walks off with Vayne grumbling at her.

: Boy, what did I miss?

: You and me both, Luxy.

: Make that the three of us!

: Groggy and beaten-up tone D-don't... forget... m-me! T-That brings the t-total to 4!

Vayne smacks J4 and puts a finger to her mouth in a "Shh" motion.

: Quiet, fool! Do you want to bring the wrath of that "Golden Demon" of Ionia on us? It's heard he LOVES the number 4!

: Why should we worry? Ionia's halfway across the world; he's closer to Noxus than here-

Vayne puts a hand over Quinn's mouth.

: Don't say it!

: MMppfghf!?

: The King has outlawed the use of that word, at least until we are done with the repairs.

: Why?

: He-

Vayne stops short, and puts a hand to her chin in thought. She then shrugs her shoulders.

: Oh, what's it matter? Come on already!

Vayne walks into the city, and the group follows. As they do, various scaffolding setups and other construction materials, such as boxes of Petricite are seen scattered around the various structures.

After some time, they approach the Citadel of Dawn, it having had a number done on it by Sion's little "excursion" just like the rest of the city.

: Man, all that construction stuff around the Citadel really makes it look... significantly more mundane.

: Perhaps if you hadn't caused our so-called "guardian" to wake up, then it wouldn't look that way!

: Hey! It's not MY fault! The former "Might of Demacia" is to blame, with his stupid unwarranted attack on the Senech-

Quinn stops as she once again struggles to pronounce Xin Zhao's title. She groans.

: Oh, the heck with it! It's thanks to when Garen attacked Xin because he was an idiot!

: Yeah, and his apparent expulsion from that "Juggernaut Club" that he was ranting and raving about.

: Hey, wait a minute! I didn't see you around when he was here doing that and all the other stuff! How do you know?

: I was preparing for my blind date, thank you very much. Which I had to cancel on account of THIS moron!

Lucian grabs J4 and holds him upward.

: B-But a-all I was doing was getting an ice-cream cone...

: Anyway, anyone seen Poppy around here?

: I believe she's inside, discussing something with the King.

A loud, roar-like yell fills the air.

: Hark, that may be him wrapping it up now. Let's go see.

Everyone goes inside the building. Walking the halls, they come across the door leading to the throne room. It's closed, but as they approach it, it is opened.

Poppy gets thrown out of the throne room, and the door closes with a loud slam behind her! Vayne walks up to Poppy as she stands up and dusts herself off.

: And how did the talk with the Kingy go?

: Not bad. He's still a little miffed with me for sentencing and kicking out Garen.

: He's not the ONLY one!

: Shut it, Crownguard brat. You should feel lucky I didn't do the same with you!

Muffled yelling is heard coming from the throne room.

: Hold on, I think Jarvy the 3rd has a few more choice words for me.

She turns and opens the door, and pokes her head inside.

: Yes, your majesty? Uh-huh, uh-huh, and.... uh-huh.

She comes back out and closes the door.

: What'd he say?

: He said Uh-huh. And that my Judge-License has been revoked. And that he's overturning all my recent sentences.

: What!? B-But...

Lux smiles. She knew what this meant! Garen didn't have his "Crown of Stone" anymore!

: He's kind of the KING! He can do that!

: Does this mean I'm not getting a spanking?

: Oh-ho, yes you ARE! I didn't cancel my blind date and go through all this crap to get you here for nothing! Come on!

Lucian grabs J4 by the legs while Quinn takes his arms, and the two lift and drag him into the throne room, followed by Vayne and Poppy.

: There's no way I'm missing out on this!

: Count me in too!

: NOOOOOO!

Lux walks off, satisfied that she had finally accomplished her goal of redeeming her brother, as everyone else goes into the court-room to see J4 get his comeuppance.

To Be Continued...