Arcane: Ekko and Powder

Ekko sat in the center of the Firelight base, the room dimly lit by the glowing bioluminescent plants that adorned the walls. His hoverboard leaned against the table, its faint hum silenced for the moment. Around him, the core figures of the Firelights began to gather, each wearing an expression of curiosity and concern. The air was heavy with anticipation—this was no ordinary meeting.

Vander arrived first, his imposing figure taking a seat at the far end of the table. His presence was as grounding as ever, a silent promise of protection and stability. Vi and Powder followed close behind, Vi's fiery energy balancing Powder's quiet but curious demeanor. Powder's gaze lingered on Ekko longer than anyone else's, searching for some unspoken answer in his eyes.

Claggor and Mylo arrived soon after, joking to ease the tension but quickly falling silent when they noticed Ekko's serious expression. Silco entered last, his sharp eyes scanning the room. He had been a vital ally in recent months, and while many still approached him with caution, Ekko trusted his intentions.

Once everyone was seated, Ekko took a deep breath and stood. The murmurs stopped, and all eyes turned to him.

"We've faced a lot together," he began, his voice steady but tinged with urgency. "Chembarons, Shimmer, cleaning up Zaun—but this... this is bigger than anything we've dealt with."

He placed the Z-Drive prototype on the table, its faint glow catching everyone's attention. Powder's eyes widened slightly; she had heard him mention ideas for such a device but hadn't seen anything tangible until now.

"I was ambushed last night," Ekko continued. "By someone who knew everything about me. About us. About Zaun."

Vi's fists clenched instinctively. "Ambushed? By who? Where are they now?"

"It wasn't just anyone," Ekko said, his voice dropping. "It was... me. From the future."

The room fell into a stunned silence. Mylo snorted, leaning back in his chair. "Alright, Ekko, I know you've got some wild ideas sometimes, but—"

"I'm not joking, Mylo," Ekko snapped, more forcefully than he intended. "It was me. An older version of me. He came back to warn us about what's coming."

Vander leaned forward, his brows furrowed. "And what exactly is coming, lad?"

"War," Ekko said bluntly. "Powerful enemies from places we can't imagine. People who don't just want to take over—they want to destroy everything we've built. Everything we're trying to fix."

Silco spoke up, his tone calm but probing. "And what proof do you have of this encounter? If this future version of yourself truly exists, what did he leave behind to convince us?"

Ekko gestured to the Z-Drive. "This. It's something I hadn't even finished designing, but he already had it. He also left me... something else."

He hesitated, glancing at Powder, who was watching him intently. He didn't want to alarm her, but the truth couldn't wait. Rolling up his sleeve, he revealed the faint silvery veins glowing under his skin where the Shimmer serum had been injected.

"This," Ekko said. "A perfected Shimmer serum. He said it'll make me stronger—faster, more capable. It's not like the Shimmer we've seen before. This one isn't addictive or harmful. It's... something else."

Powder's eyes widened in alarm. "Ekko, you injected Shimmer? Are you out of your mind?"

"It wasn't a choice, Pow," Ekko replied, his voice softening when he met her gaze. "If I didn't take it, the future he described wouldn't stand a chance of being avoided. He gave it to me because he knew I'd need it—to protect all of you. To protect us."

Vi was the first to break the tense silence. "Alright, let's say this future version of you is real, and this war is coming. What do we do about it? We've been fighting our whole lives, but if these enemies are as strong as you say..."

"That's why we need to prepare," Ekko said. "He told me to finish the Z-Drive, but that's just one piece of the puzzle. We need to train harder, invent smarter, and work together like we never have before. This isn't just about Zaun anymore. It's about all of us—Zaun, Piltover, everyone we care about."

Silco nodded slowly. "If what you say is true, then we'll need allies. Strong ones. The chembarons may be scattered now, but there are still factions in Zaun that could be swayed to our cause. We'll need to solidify Zaun's unity if we're going to stand against an external threat."

"And Piltover?" Vander asked.

"The Kirammans are already on our side," Ekko said. "And Caitlyn can help us navigate the Council. Jayce is working on Hextech—it could be a game-changer, but we'll need to keep an eye on him. If this technology falls into the wrong hands..."

He didn't need to finish the sentence. Everyone in the room understood the stakes.

Claggor leaned back, crossing his arms. "So, what's the plan? Where do we even start?"

"We start by getting stronger," Ekko said. "Vi, I need you to lead combat training. If we're going to face enemies more powerful than anything we've seen, we can't afford to have weak links."

Vi smirked, cracking her knuckles. "You got it, boss."

"Powder," Ekko continued, turning to her. "You're the best inventor I know. I need your help building the Z-Drive and improving our defenses. We're going to need new weapons and armor—things that can stand up to whatever's coming."

Powder nodded, her initial worry replaced by determination. "I'm on it."

"Silco, Vander," Ekko said. "You two know Zaun better than anyone. If there are factions out there we can bring to our side, I need you to make it happen. Zaun has to stand united, or we don't stand a chance."

The two men exchanged a glance before Vander nodded. "We'll handle it."

"What about me?" Mylo asked.

"Scout," Ekko said. "Keep your ear to the ground. If anything unusual starts happening in Zaun or Piltover, I want to know about it immediately."

After the meeting broke up, Powder lingered, watching as the others dispersed. She approached Ekko, her expression a mix of concern and curiosity.

"You're not telling me everything," she said quietly.

Ekko sighed, running a hand through his hair. "Pow, I'm telling you as much as I can."

"No," she insisted, stepping closer. "There's more, isn't there? About the future. About us."

Ekko hesitated. He didn't want to burden her with the full weight of what Future Ekko had said, especially the part about Powder being the key to everything. But her eyes searched his, waiting for the truth.

"He said... that you're the reason everything we've built matters," Ekko admitted finally. "That if I don't protect you, none of it will survive."

Powder's breath hitched, her emotions flickering across her face. "Ekko, I don't need protecting. I can handle myself."

"I know you can," Ekko said gently, placing a hand on her shoulder. "But that doesn't mean I won't do everything in my power to keep you safe. You're my partner, Pow. In everything. And I can't lose you."

For a moment, she was silent. Then she leaned in, resting her forehead against his. "We're in this together, Ekko. Always."

As Powder stepped back, Ekko felt a renewed sense of purpose. The road ahead was uncertain, but he wasn't alone. With the Firelights by his side and Powder at his back, he knew they had a fighting chance.

Tomorrow, the work would begin.