Hero: A Galio and Poppy Fanfiction
This is something I worked on for much longer that necessary. Probably because I'm a slow writer. Anyway, since Galio is getting a rework and only Riot knows what's happening with him, I decided to write a fanfic to explore his relationship with Poppy. One thing led to another and suddenly this became a "What if?" piece instead of a "Could happen." piece that I usually prefer to write (I don't like to alter canon too much, but I liked this idea a lot). I hope everyone who takes the time to read this enjoys it. Please leave your thoughts below if able.
Also this isn't a shipping story. Just wanted to make that clear.
P.S. If anyone at Riot is reading this, can you ask some Forum mods or someone if they can allow indentions in this forum? I copy pasted from my google docs but indentions don't show up half the time in making the post and never show up when publishing the post. It's kinda a pet peeve.
Hero
Galio watched the village from his perch atop Durand’s tower, at least that was what he called it in honor of his fallen creator. His failure at being Durand’s guardian ate away at the gargoyle for countless decades, and in his torment he locked himself deep within the confines of the tower as self inflicted punishment. It was a foolish decision made with a grieving mind. But through the actions of an unexpected visitor, Galio had found purpose once again: To be the guardian that Durand envisioned.
However, Durand and his accomplishments had been forgotten in the decades of Galio’s penance and Demacia had expanded. The site of so many villages nearby his maker's home had surprised the sentinel. If Durand was still alive then he would have moved somewhere more private. Unlike the artificer, Galio enjoyed the sights and sounds off in the distance. His keen eyes saw so much from his vantage point, taking special note of festivals and gatherings as well as incoming dangers.
Rarely did he have to leave his perch. There was the occasional bandit group or disaster, but they were few and far between. So much so that Galio was considered an urban legend. The tales of him that Poppy had heard on her travels always brought a good laugh as she told him. They did not matter in the end. Real or not, he was their guardian and content with it.
A familiar figure dotted over the horizon. The birds resting on his wings flew off as he edged closer from his roost to get a better look. He smiled upon seeing two blonde pigtails and a massive hammer off in the distance. The gargoyle wondered what tales the yordle had this time.
“How does the search, oh wielder of the hammer?” Galio shouted in a jovial tone as he swooped down to the yordle. Despite his stone form, the guardian never had difficulties taking to the skies. His great wings could take him farther than his stubby legs ever could, all with the grace of an eagle.
Or so he liked to boast.
Poppy smiled warmly as Galio landed before her, “Ongoing, as always.” She said with a weary sigh, “How goes the watch?” the yordle asked as she put the hammer down. A small cloud of dirt formed briefly as the hammer hit the dirt road, a testament to the weight of the weapon. She was the only yordle that Galio had ever met, leaving him to wonder if they were all as strong as her.
He puffed out his chest and stood as tall as his short legs would allow, “Ever vigilant, as always.”
The two friends laughed as they walked (in in Galio’s case, flew) off to Durand’s tower. Like many times before, they began to share tales of what they had seen, what they had done, and what they had heard. It came as no surprise that Poppy’s were the more exciting. The amount she had seen in her travels made Galio nostalgic for the days he traveled with Durand. He wondered how different the places they had been were now, Poppy’s words could only give so much detail. He needed to see it one day.
“And..” Poppy stopped talking for a moment, mournfully glancing at the hammer she had propped up against the wall. She sighed, “He wasn’t the hero. They never are.”
“You will find him, one day.” Galio assured his friend. He knew that Poppy would walk to the ends of Runeterra before she’d give up, and even then she’d retrace her steps to make sure she did not overlook anyone. That was just who she was, and it was what he found most admirable about her.
Poppy laid back against the mat on the floor, resting her head against her backpack she used as an impromptu pillow. “I used to think that. But now...now I’m not so sure. Every time I think I find the right one, he just dies. Crushed by boulders, killed by bandits, there was even one who was eaten by a dragon. I was so hopeful that he was the one, and the moment his hand reached out from inside the dragon’s throat I was sure of it. Then came the fire breath.”
She groaned and stared up at the ceiling, “I’m tired.” She turned to her friend, “Do you mind if I stayed for a while? Longer than usual I mean.”
“Not at all, Poppy. I could use better company than birds.” Galio expected a laugh, but Poppy was already fast asleep. The gargoyle watched her for a moment before making his way up the tower. He stopped to look at the hammer.
Galio had never met Orlorn. The founder of Demacia was considered ancient when the guardian was made. But from how Poppy spoke of him, he could understand her burden. At least in some way. It was almost like him and Durand, but Poppy set up to fulfill a promise whereas Galio tried to make up for his failure.
He grasped the hammer, it was as if it was bolted to the ground. Even with both hands he could barely move it an inch away. This was the burden she carried, and Galio could see the wear of it on her.
“Take as long as you need, my friend.” He said before returning to his watch.
Poppy’s stay brought fresh life into Durands’ tower. Both the yordle and gargoyle took their time repairing holes and supports that Galio had always promised himself to fix later. In the first week they had even cleared out all of the clutter on the first few floors.
Early on he felt the time away from her responsibility was good for Poppy. But as the month went by he grew worried whenever he snuck a glance at the hammer she left in the front hall. Already the castle spiders were spinning webs on it, as though it had become one with the tower. At first he said nothing, not wanting to worry his friend. But now he couldn’t bear to stay silent.
“Poppy” he asked while they were in the midst of raking leaves, “Have you given up?” he didn’t want to dance around the subject.
“Do you not want me here?” Poppy asked as she stopped raking, she didn’t turn to face him when she talked.
“Of course not. It’s been great to have company without wings, but you are not one to just shirk your duties.”
“I already failed.” she returned to raking, “Orlorn chose the person to continue his search.”
Galio turned back to the tower where the hammer resided. Thinking back on how Poppy wielded it with ease and how he could barely move it, an interesting thought came to mind.
“Maybe he wasn’t asking you to continue searching.”
“He did. He passed it on his deathbed.”
“Are you sure he wasn’t just...returning what belonged?”
“Yes. He had it for as long as I knew him and I never saw it before.”
“Poppy, you kno-”
“I’m not the hero!” she shouted. Galio froze for a moment before reaching to console her. “Poppy, I-”
She batted the hand away, “You think the thought hadn’t crossed my mind? I’m not that thick.” She turned to Galio, tears swelling in her eyes, “But how could I be the hero? What kind of person travels for...for who knows how long without realizing that it’s them? How could such a person be destined to bring Demacia to greatness? I lose my sense of direction half the time!
I’m no hero. I’m just a soldier with a duty from a close friend. No, I’m a failure at that as well.”
They didn’t talk for a day after that. Galo wanted to say she was wrong, that she was nothing close to a failure. But he was worried that she would see it as pity, and maybe it was. The gargoyle sighed as he looked out to the festival in the distance. Dealing with people was a lot harder than watching over them.
“How do they do it?” he asked himself and the birds perched upon him as he took close note of the festivities. They were celebrating this year's harvest of honeyfruit, and judging by the noise it seemed to have been a big one. He often wondered what fruit or even food tasted like. Or what it felt like to taste something. It sounded like an enjoyable experience from how Poppy described it. The yordle had left earlier for the festival, though maybe it was to space herself from Galio. He would have gone for a flight if she had not, he needed solitude to think.
He knew the pain of failure better than anyone. That feeling of inadequacy had harmed him more than any blow during his time as a guardian. He was no ordinary creation of Durand, but his personal protector. Yet despite every power at his disposal, he couldn’t save his master, his father, from a simple knife.
The despair of failing his duty and losing Durand was too much. Only his sense of punishment prevented him from ending his days. He felt he deserved such suffering, to waste away deep in his creator’s home until he could no longer...Galio wasn’t sure if he could die of old age.
Then he met her, a yordle who had broken through the front door to seek shelter from the rain. Galio told her his tale, told her why he punished himself. Then she told hers and Galio couldn’t help but feel awestruck by every failure she had. But she never stopped, for doing so would be the ultimate failure. She swore to see her duty fulfilled, no matter how long it took. Galio looked at the hammer on the wall as he came back down. It was in this spot all those years ago that he realized what a fool he was. Durand had created him to protect, not only him but Demacia as a whole. He grabbed the hammer by the handle with a single hand and sighed.
It was here he found his hero, and his inability to help her out of the same problem frustrated him to no end. He groaned as he returned to his post, forgetting why he came down to see that ancient hammer. Much to his horror, he realized he should have remained vigilant. An army marched out over the horizon, with Noxian flags held high above the soldiers. Smoke rose from the neighboring villages as the vanguard began their raid.
The gargoyle flew off, only to claw at her perch for dear life as he remembered his friend was not only in the middle of the battle, but without her weapon. Galio rushed inside the tower, the wind that carried his winds knocked away the books and shelves that he and Poppy had worked so hard to clear. With both hands he grabbed the hammer, but it remained steadfast. He beat his wings furiously in his attempt, returning the cleaned room to its cluttered state.
“Please” he begged to the hammer as though it could listen, “Please let me bear her burden, if only to return you to her.” Slowly, the hammer rose with him. It did not feel any lighter, but Galio had little time to check. With the hero’s hammer in hand, he took flight to find its keeper.
It had been a long time since Poppy used a sword. Her footwork was sloppy and she found her strikes lacked weight. Thankfully noxian weapons were designed to make up for some of the power she lacked. She cut deep into the thigh of one soldier as she side stepped away from his downward swing. Another came from behind, but she slammed the back of her blade into his legs to trip him. There was no end to them. With each noxian she fell, two seemed to take his place. It was almost like the battles she fought with Orlorn, how they stood side by side and took hundreds with them. Thinking back, she did a lot of the fighting. Orlorn was more focused on the tactics. Still, he had her back and she had his, a tactic she surely missed.
Soon she was overwhelmed. Groups of soldiers attacked her at once, each encounter leaving more wounds under her garments.
If only I had a little more re-
“Poppy!” roared a familiar voice from above. She looked up to see Galio flying overhead, with the hammer in his hands. Next she knew, it was coming down at her. Without hesitation, she reached for it. Its return felt welcome, and the force behind it as she swung felt right. Galio bombarded the invaders before landing next to her.
“You’re right. It is heavier than it looks.” he said with a confident grin. The gargoyle bowed, “What are your orders?”
Poppy was stunned to see her friend bowing, “O-orders? Galio, I’m not-”
“You’re the most experienced person here, Poppy.” He interrupted her and pointed to the militiamen fighting, “I’ve watched this town to know that few people truly know how to fight here. And while I can fight, I don’t believe I am the right one to lead.” he pointed to Poppy, “You’re our only hope.” Galio stood up straight and puffed out his chest as if he was going to salute. He repeated, “Your orders, Keeper?”
Poppy looked at the burning village around her. The Noxians were still coming, and the people dwindled by the second. They needed someone to help them, someone to lead. She couldn’t be that...could she?
She looked back to Galio and took a deep breath, “I want you to make sure the women and children escape.” she ordered while pointing deeper into the village, “I’ll make sure no one else gets passed.”
“It shall be done, keeper.” Galio said as he flew off. Poppy braced her hammer as more enemies approached. She would let no one through. The militia seemed to follow her example as if it was second nature. They fought harder with every foe she brought down. Hope blossomed through their ranks as they held the line.
Then an inhuman roar filled the air. The Noxian soldiers stopped their forward push, only to panically move to the farthest sides of the village. They were too slow. Poppy’s eyes widened in terror as a man of massive frame charged through the Noxians from behind. Enemy and ally alike were trampled beneath his boot and iron peg leg.
Poppy rushed forward to veer the juggernaut off his path, but her body was no match for the force the monster carried. The momentum sent her several feet away. The warrior raised his axe slowly to strike, giving Poppy time to roll away. To her surprise, she found herself back in the air as the axe shattered the earth.
Poppy saw Galio busy with getting the people to safety while she was in the air. She pushed back her pain and brought the hammer down upon the colossus's head as she fell. The blow didn’t daze him, but he was too slow to intercept her next swing as she landed. With as much force as she could muster, she crashed Orlorn’s hammer into the juggernaut’s bloated gut.
The dirt below its feet tore as the warrior was knocked back. Poppy panted heavily as she solidified her guard.
“Come on.” she dared. The undead juggernaut complied.
Galio blessed the wind to carry the villagers swiftly as they ran from the fighting. Many feared his appearence, but there were enough who knew tales of the gargoyle to prevent them from attacking. Galio assumed as much anyway, he wasn’t really worried about how they saw him.
Poppy collided against the building behind him. She slammed in with so much force that the structure crumbled as if hit by a cannonball. With the villagers gone, Galio rushed to the aid of his friend. He looked in the direction she came from to see a mountain of a man standing before them, or at least what looked like one.
His skin had no color of life and was bolted together with iron. A knife with a red tassel that fluttered in the wind was jammed into the back of his head. It didn’t bother him, just like the strangely shaped metal jaw bolted to his face didn’t have him coiling in pain. A sphere of red energy swelled around him, getting darker by the second. Soon Galio could no longer see the monster.
He did see Noxians however, retreating from battle unlike any other Noxians the sentinel had seen. Was this behemoth not one of their own? He realized it when Poppy tried to warn him, but it was too late.
“Galio, find co-”
The sphere screamed a cacophony of dead men as it exploded. The blast wave demolished soldiers on both sides and any remaining houses crumbed as if felled by a wind storm. Galio’s own magics guarded him and Poppy from the worst of it, but not by much.
For the first time in ages, the gargoyle felt exhaustion from the overuse of his enchantments. Poppy was no worse for wear. The durable yordle was using her hammer to stay standing as she panted from the pain. The exertion of battle with this monstrosity was taking its toll, but one deep breath later and her hammer was at the ready.
“Galio, I think you should get out while you can.”
“Not a chance.” he said in defiance.
“What if that was an order?”
“I’m not a soldier. And I can’t leave my hero behind.”
Poppy froze when he finished, “...Galio, I’m-”
The roar from the undead juggernaut interrupted her. Both friends looked to see the sphere surrounding their foe again, only this time it was growing larger. It drained red energy from the corpses around it, from both enemy and ally the sphere grew.
Galio scanned the area. There was no suitable cover that hadn’t been blown away for a good ways away. And even if there was, it wouldn’t be enough to barricade themselves from the blast. He could tell Poppy was trying to think of a plan, but all options were gone. All but one.
“Poppy,” Galio opened his wings wide, “I’m sorry.” they were his final words as he flew towards the behemoth. He ignored Poppy’s cries as he flapped faster, gaining as much speed as he could muster. The juggernaut stood solid as Galio crashed into him. But that did not impede the gargoyle. Quickly he wrapped his arms around the titan’s frame. The shield screamed with the souls of the dead as his head braced against it.
With as much magic as he could convene, Galio formed a shield around him and his foe. The runes of his body shined brightly, undulled by the blood of the behemoth’s fists as the futility pummeled him. The gargoyle smiled, “This is my penance.” he said as he closed his eyes.
Poppy watched in despair as the red sphere exploded within Galio’s shield. The shock wave from the blast has broken through, but not enough to reach the destruction of the first. The yordle sprinted as as hard as she could, ignoring every burning step from the pain and exhaustion that spurred through her body.
“Galio!!!!”
There was no answer. She saw the gargoyle, but he did not move. He stood frozen, like a statue…
“No...please no.” Poppy’s eyes swelled with tears as she reached her friend. Or what had become of him. He had used everything to contain the blast, drawing power from whatever life he had left. The missing runes were the sign, he was just a stone guardian now.
She had lost another friend. Her legs gave out, falling to the battle scarred earth. A calm wind blew through her pigtails as she hid her tears in her palms.
“Why?” she sobbed, “There was something we could have done. There had to be!”
Her mourning was cut short by an undying roar. The behemoth that Galio trapped with him rose from where the explosion planted him. His axe was gone and his chest glowed a bright red. Like an animal, the juggernaut charged with fists ready to smash Galio’s remains.
Without thinking, the yordle rammed into the colossus. Summoning whatever strength she had and more, she pushed the titan back inch by inch. Shattering bones as he tried to block her hits with his iron banded arm.
You will not touch him.
Poppy’s strength didn’t waver, and the hammer strikes became more fierce. A holy aura emanated from the hammer and from herself. She had felt a familiar sensation before, only it was more subtle.
In desperate fury, the juggernaut kicked forward with his iron peg leg. The yordle was knocked back, but she did not fall. The monster chased after her. In response, she rose her hammer up high. The power coursed through her small body, power that she had denied for so long. She’d say she wasn’t good enough, that there was someone better. But now she saw the better one, and she would make sure this undead abomination would no longer harm him.
She screamed as she slammed the hammer into the ground. All the power in her was gone, rushing through the earth to meet with the monster. The ground shattered and from beneath it, a hammer shot up and sent the juggernaut flying.
Poppy watched him fly through the air, soon exited her range of sight. She looked over to Galio, taking deep breaths from exhaustion as she walked over. Poppy rested her hand on his face. It was solid as ever, but it felt cold. All life was gone, the only sign of it being there was the serene and peaceful look that was foreign to the face of a gargoyle.
“Galio, I’m not a hero.” She couldn’t look at him when talking, “If I was, then this would not have happened.” She surveyed the destruction around them. Little remained of the happy village in the midst of a honeyfruit festival. A hero would have prevented this, someone more that her, Orlorn or...no.
“As far as I’m concerned, you’re the hero. But I can’t give the hammer to a statue.” Her grip tightened as she looked into Galio’s stone eyes, “I promise to carry in your stead. I don’t...I’m not sure if I can be the hero. But I promise that I will try. And I’ll make sure you’ll be remembered.”
Poppy set off soon afterward, determined to be the hero she had spent countless years searching for. She made one other vow, to return to Galio once a year to share what had happened on her travels as she had done before. But that can wait, first came the duty of a hero.
“Now, which way is the capital?”
