#Jayce Caitlyn and Mel (+ some other Piltites) sitting at Silco's dinner table

[goddessofroyalty]

So I'm twisting around ideas for how I'm going to salvage the "external threat" plot-line for Zaun Family after Season 2 went a different route for it's final villain and I think I have An Idea.

It's gonna be Ambessa (has to be).

Piltover realises that her interest might be more Conquering than Diplomatic in nature but even with the time they do have to try and build a defence she basically comes in and takes over with little effort.

But no matter what she does she cannot take Zaun. Partially because Silco hasn't stopped stockpiling weapons and his contingency plans for if the Representative deal falls through so they're very well armed to prevent an attempted Occupation. Partially because of the layout of Zaun being a nightmare for anyone unfamiliar and really good for gorilla warfare for those familiar with it. And Partially because There Be Monsters Down There (Silco's children + while Shimmer is more focused on medical use in this universe they didn't completely abandon the Makes People Monstrous element).

So while Zaun never Rallies Behind Piltover, Ambessa cannot say she managed to Take Piltover because she cannot get a hold of the Undercity. And because of the amount of physical connections between the two cities (especially secret ones that were old smuggling routes or just so old they're not on maps anymore but people in Zaun know about them) it means that she also cannot suppress the Piltover resistance because they've based themselves out of Zaun (and have some level of Zaunite support because while Zaun isn't going to Rally behind Piltover they also do want the Occupation Of Piltover to end).

I feel like Jayce still has to destroy the Hexgates but it's more to prevent Ambessa from bringing in more and more reinforcements (then the ending is more "we can rebuild them just need a way to stop that from happening again") and then Mel and Caitlyn still defeat Ambessa in combat so Mel takes over Ambessa's command and calls off the occupation.

I'm still rotating it in my mind (and still haven't watched the season to kidnap what I can) so this may be tweaked or completely changed.