Arcane: Ekko and Powder

Zaun and Piltover shared an unusual quiet after the chaos of recent battles. The streets of Zaun were lively, but not with conflict—people worked together to rebuild their city, to bury the scars left by war. Piltover's towering spires loomed overhead, reminders of both opportunity and the looming dangers of the future. Ekko, now taller, stronger, and visibly more confident, had stepped into his new role as both a leader and a fighter. With Powder by his side, they tackled the challenges that came with being the hope of Zaun.

The day began in the Firelights' workshop, but it quickly moved to a more formal setting in Piltover. Silco, Vi, and Ekko stood alongside Powder as representatives of Zaun, while Caitlyn, Tobias Kiramman, and several other council members greeted them on behalf of Piltover. The tension in the room was palpable, though much softer than it had been weeks ago when the two cities had still been at odds.

"We're grateful for your assistance in the fight against Ambessa," Tobias began, his voice measured and diplomatic. "It was a victory we couldn't have achieved without Zaun's strength and ingenuity."

Vi crossed her arms, leaning back in her chair. "Don't thank us just yet. Ambessa might be down, but she's not out. And whoever that shadowy crow person was, they're still out there."

Powder, perched beside Ekko, chimed in. "We're all in this together now, right? If we're going to keep Zaun and Piltover safe, we need to start thinking ahead—like, way ahead."

Ekko nodded, his expression serious. "Agreed. We need to bolster our defenses and figure out who—or what—we're up against. Zaun's willing to collaborate, but we're going to need resources, access to more Hextech, and, frankly, trust."

Caitlyn spoke next, her tone firm yet warm. "You've earned that trust. Piltover is committed to maintaining this alliance. My family, at least, is prepared to fund any joint efforts we deem necessary."

The meeting stretched on, filled with debates over logistics, resources, and strategy. By the end of it, both sides had agreed to form a task force dedicated to addressing future threats, with Ekko and Caitlyn acting as co-leads. It was a small but significant step toward uniting the two cities.

After the meeting, Ekko and Powder took a detour through Piltover. With Isha tagging along, the trio explored the upper city's streets, basking in the temporary peace. The cobblestone paths were lined with bustling vendors and street performers, a stark contrast to the smoky, industrial vibes of Zaun.

"Piltover is kinda… fancy, huh?" Powder said, tilting her head as she watched a man juggle flaming torches in the square.

"Fancy, yeah," Ekko replied, his voice tinged with amusement. "But it's got charm. Like… in a 'too-clean-for-my-liking' way."

Isha laughed, skipping ahead to peer into the window of a toy shop. "It's so different from home!"

Powder tugged on Ekko's sleeve. "Hey, we should get her something. Like, a little souvenir. She's been through a lot."

Ekko smiled and nodded. "Yeah, let's do it."

The two of them browsed the shop's wares until they found a small mechanical bird that flapped its wings and chirped when wound up. They handed it to Isha, whose face lit up with pure joy.

"Thank you!" she exclaimed, hugging both of them tightly.

The moment was a brief respite, a reminder of why they fought so hard—to protect moments like this.

Later that evening, back in Zaun, Ekko found himself in the Firelights' training ground once more. His new height and strength still felt unfamiliar, and he was determined to master his new capabilities. Vander had taken it upon himself to personally train Ekko, drawing from years of experience as Zaun's protector.

"Again," Vander barked, his gruff voice echoing through the room.

Ekko wiped sweat from his brow and squared up, his stance low and steady. Vander lunged, his massive frame moving with surprising speed, and Ekko barely managed to sidestep the blow. He countered with a swift punch aimed at Vander's midsection, but the older man blocked it effortlessly.

"You're faster now," Vander said, nodding in approval. "Stronger too. But you've got to think ahead. Use that big brain of yours, Ekko."

Powder watched from the sidelines, cheering him on. "Come on, Ekko! Show him what you've got!"

With a renewed burst of energy, Ekko feinted to the left before darting right, delivering a sharp elbow to Vander's ribs. The older man grunted but grinned.

"Now that's more like it," Vander said, stepping back and clapping Ekko on the shoulder. "You're getting there, kid."

As the night wore on, the Firelights gathered for a more relaxed meeting. They discussed the events of the day, from the council meeting to the sparring sessions. Silco, who had been uncharacteristically quiet, finally spoke up.

"This peace we have now—it's fragile," he said, his tone measured. "Piltover and Zaun have never been allies. Not truly. But if we're going to survive what's coming, we have to be."

Ekko nodded in agreement. "We've made progress, but we're not there yet. Trust takes time. And we don't have a lot of that."

Powder leaned against him, her blue eyes filled with determination. "Then we make it work. Whatever it takes."

The Firelights murmured their agreement, a quiet resolve settling over the room.

As the Firelights disbanded for the night, Ekko found himself alone on the rooftop of their base, staring out over Zaun. The city was still rough around the edges, but it was growing, healing.

Powder joined him, wrapping an arm around his waist. "Hey," she said softly. "You okay?"

"Yeah," Ekko replied, though his voice carried a hint of uncertainty. "Just thinking about everything we've got ahead of us."

Powder smiled, resting her head against his shoulder. "We'll figure it out. Together."

He placed a hand over hers, the warmth of her touch grounding him. "Yeah. Together."

Above them, the stars shone brightly, a reminder that even in the darkest of times, there was always light to guide the way forward.