Now that I look back, on everything that's happened, the people whom I've lost, the heartbreak, I ask myself...would I do this again? Would I go through all of this again? The answer is yes, because when you're given a second chance to experience life and all of the joys it can give you. You grab it without a thought, without even thinking it may end one day. Is it worth it? The pain the heartache and the torment, of course! I would never take back those moments for they are as precious as the air I breath, the sun on my back and the stars in the sky. I can still remember that first day, the first day that I became who I am now. A guardian.
"Eyes up guardian"
It's the first thing I heard. As my vision finally cleared, I took a long look around. what the he'll had happened to me? I feel like I got hit by a damn train. I looked around at the broken landscape set out before me. Cars and torn up roads and highways, trees and desserts touching each other almost seemingly out of place. A giant wall stood almost before me like nothing I had ever seen before. The landscape was a broken masterpiece, somberly beautiful. What the hell had happened here? As I looked around a white object with a glowing blue light seemed to talk to me. It was small enough to fit in my palm. The blue light emitted from the glass in the center and the outside casing was white and black. It almost looked like one of those old children's toys that used to expand and contract. Not that I could clearly picture that.
"What the hell are you?"
It seemed to almost be irked at my words.
"I'm a ghost! It's not safe here though, I'll explain more later."
I kept thinking to myself, what the hells a ghost. My brain was mush and I couldn't keep any of my thoughts straight. Almost grumbling, I stood up with wobbly legs, completely unsure of what the hell I was doing. I followed the little white ball, just about being fed up with whatever this was, as we made our way to the wall. When we crossed through a small path between the cars, I felt lost, alone, scared even. I had no idea what was to come or who I was and this world looked foreign to me. The images that were in my mind was nothing like the desolated landscape surrounding me. The ghost disappeared from sight, leaving me unnerved as a looked every which way for what I now deemed an extremely intelligent machine.
"I'm still with you guardian. Do not fret."
I simply nodded in response as the ghost gave me instructions. I was seriously in auto-pilot mode, not even being able to care that I had just woken up. We clambered through the wall from a hole in it. Inside the dark twisted metal scaffolding gleamed amber in the dying light of the outside world. The musty smell of rust and blood ever present as I...no as we made our way through the piping. I'm going to have get used to this thing being invisible and being able to hear everything I'm saying out loud. Though not for lack of trying I couldn't seem to get a grasp on myself and my mind. The ghost, which I will now consider a he because that's what it sounds like, found a weapon for me as we ran into what he called enemies of the light, the fallen. I wasn't expecting what I saw. It was something out of a horror genre, monsters in purple uniforms with three fingers and two talons for feet stood in front of me. Almost snarling in disgust. It was almost like a jealous rage. Everything happened so quick and before I knew it, I was shooting and fighting trying to steal a ship from them. Their blood ran down the tattered rags of armor that had found, somewhere. Could I please get my act together…Shit, this is annoying how can I not remember where I picked this crap up? I knew we couldn't fight forever in this place so the ship was our only option, something that would take us to safety. My movements almost felt mechanical, that I wasn't in control of myself, like it was instinctual, or a puppet. Actually, it felt more like someone downloaded this information into my brain, and deleted everything else. Or maybe it was instinct I don't know. What I did know is I was left with someone who only fought. No personality just fighting. I really hoped that would change. I used to know the word for this. This feeling I felt but for some reason it would not form. I thought hard as my body mechanically took over and shot another fallen dreg into the ground. I remembered…
A soldier. A machine. A killer.
I knew these words, I heard them many times before they returned to me as I was lost in the new memories that flooded through my head.
"Get down!"
An explosion rocked to my right. Sounds of gunfire and bombs went off in proximity to myself.
"King you still with us?"
My voice echoed. Another female voice to my left was speaking.
The image faded and pain shot up my leg. I got shot. A blood appeared on my left knee spreading quickly. I had become sloppy while remembering a time long since passed. I should not try and think about who I am when I'm fighting for my life, that is not a good idea, I am now taking note to not do such a stupid ass thing again. I whirled around on the vandal who shot me and put a bullet right between its eyes. Anger surging through me lighting my blood on fire. I reveled in the kill and the precision in which I did so. The ship was so close to being ours but I wanted more, I didn't want to stop, killing the fallen, it brought something deep to the surface, a primal instinct. I wanted to destroy them for hurting me. For giving me this shitty introduction to the living world. For Christ sake, I just go woken up after being dead for god knows how long, give the girl a break!
I lost myself in the fight. A massive fallen appeared from a hole in the wall and I grinned and turned about to engage it…Until the ghost transported me aboard the ship with no warning, or at least one I heard. I didn't get to finish my kill and my prize so I sat down in the cockpit pouting.
"You're not ready for an archaeon yet. We can come back when you are!"
I began to shake in the seat. What the hell was that anger, those thoughts. I went crazy, I wanted to kill, I looked down at my hands in fear, knowing I had taken another creatures life… but instead of disgust it brought me comfort. That was not right. I should not be comforted by the sight of blood. Who the hell am I? I realized at this point I had no real memory of who I was nor even what my name was. I had a set grimace across my face. How could I be alive and have zero memories. Just feelings and random images that didn't feel like my own. I didn't know why I was so angry either. I felt cheated somehow.
"Ghost... You care to explain what the he'll that was? Who the fallen are? What the light is? And the most important question, who and what am I?"
Yes, I was aggravated. Tired still, I wanted a coffee...whatever that was. And I was in pain. Waves of annoyance rolled off of me and unfortunately the only other individual here was the machine. The ghost seemed to blink at me unsure.
"You are what's called a guardian, someone who is chosen by the traveler to help fight the darkness. You are brought back to life from a different time in order to put whatever skills you may have had in a previous life to use. The fallen are only a very small portion of this darkness, not much is really known about why they are trying to kill us but they are. The traveler is the light. It came to us one day to give us a gift. A gift of power. The power to not die and the power to heal. Even the power to destroy its enemies. As for who you are, that I do not know. Us ghosts only get a feeling about who our guardian is supposed to be. Some of us spend years trying to find you. I got lucky, I was created and I had this feeling to go find you! And I did! So, I brought you back to life using the light!"
My eye twitched.
"If you can heal, mind patching up the knee please?"
The ghost immediately shined a light onto my knee which completely healed it. I breathed I sigh of relief. The pain had faded completely and I felt as good as new. I sat looking at the scenery pass before me. It was weird to see that I was flying again. I scrunched my face up in aggravation. What the hell was I supposed to do now? I thought came to me, I'm comforted by the killing because it's something I know how to do, something I can remember. That's why this is important. I guess it's not so bad, at least I know I'm not a horrible person, just that it's familiar. I still didn't know who I was but, I was okay now that I had something familiar. I looked towards the ghost expectantly.
"So, in reviving me...do I come with a name? I can't seem to remember it…"
The ghost seemed to look at me, or what I assume was looking at me.
"Most guardians remember their names by this point. You're telling me you don't?"
I shook my head almost solemnly. Great something was wrong with me. Figures!
"Hey, can you hear me? You've been in an explosion. I'm here to help"
My body felt heavy as I closed my eyes in pain. This was how I was to end.
"Can you remember your name, age, date of birth."
I opened my eyes in a panic, breathing becoming hitched. I didn't know who I was or what happened.
I shook my head to get rid of the memory, or what I thought was a memory. The ghost seemed to think a moment before speaking again.
"Then how about storm?"
My eyebrow raised.
"How'd you get that name?"
The ghost seemed to be smiling, its parts moving in excitement.
"Because of your unpredictability and also your ruthlessness in combat."
I shot the ghost a look. He couldn't be serious… He was, He was completely serious! I snapped back a remark.
"What about you, I can't just call you ghost all the time."
The ghost seemed to be beaming.
"Well then storm, I guess you get to give me a name!"
I deflated with his enthusiasm and smiled at the ghost.
"What about Arthur?"
The ghost flitted about.
"I like it. Where's it from?"
I smiled at him. "It's from a very old legend. About king Arthur."
The ghost flitted about some more. Seemingly in just joy that I had named him.
"You'll have to tell me the tale another time. We are here!"
I was teleported. Just like that into one if the most amazing structures I have ever seen in my life. The grass under my boots, didn't feel as I had expected it to but the wind in my hair and the smells of food where overwhelming. The chatter was almost painful to the ears. It seemed like everyone was talking and no one at all. The walls seemed to be giving off an unnatural light that was both welcoming and threating. I turned around to look at the traveler and was brought to the point of tears. The light was both bright and warm yet soft and comforting. It felt like I had finally come home. Finally found the place I was meant to be. I just sat down a while and took in my surroundings. It took my breath away, I didn't know why I was crying, was it from the beauty of the place or for memories lost. It could have been both. I had been lost in thought for about an hour when Arthur came rushing up to me.
"Are you ready to meet the vanguard? You'll like the hunter vanguard, he's a bit off the wall."
I was a bit confused.
"Hunter?"
Arthur I could almost see become frustrated with himself. If he had hands he probably would've smacked himself.
"I'm sorry, I didn't explain! When you wake up as a guardian there are three different classes of guardian that are randomly assigned. You have hunters, which is what your class is, warlocks, and titans. Hunters are wild, love to explore and hate to be cooped up for too long. Warlocks are infused with magic, they can harness powers through their bodies. Titans are a class of their own. They are the heavy hitters. They can create shields and barriers to protect others that are with them. Arc class has a power of their own though. They can use void energy, solar energy and arc energy."
My head was spinning at this point. I was suffering from information overload. Wait a minute, powers, energy, holy crap what? Is this a joke? The ghost seemed to be excited about this. Arthur continued.
"Most guardians choose the energy type that they work best with. Like cayde-6, he's the hunter vanguard, and he prefers using solar energy over the other two."
I just nodded in a daze. What the hell was I supposed to do with all of this information? I guess it was just something else to accept about this new life. I couldn't stop thinking about the old life that seemed to be entertaining my thoughts occasionally.
"Arthur, I think I'm ready to meet the vanguard. Then ready for bed..."
Arthur blipped at me to follow him. I walked through the tower with renewed vigor as wonderment filled my core and my mind. The sheer amount of people was asinine. Everyone seemed to be running about, shouting at people to work or just going someplace else. I entered into a room that was full of electronics. Computers line the walls, which were almost completely hidden. Not enough to hide the terrible paint job though, who the he'll painted that place. In front of me was A small staircase that lead down into a sunken area of the floor where a ginormous table sat. Holy he'll that room was huge, people moved about, hitting the screens, some people running back and forth talking to the what I assumed were the vanguard, the three people that stood around the table. Looking like someone had just kicked their puppy. That wasn't a good omen at all. I really hope no one died. The robot in the room was the first to greet me.
"Welcome guardian, here is some armor and your room key in the tower."
Cold. Almost to the point of rudeness. The other two barely even glanced my way. They were looking at a map of something in concern. It's like they had something more important to do. Just like before. Okay these random intrusive thoughts were getting annoying as he'll. I shook my head and took the package from the machine. He called himself cayde-6. I tried to talk to the other two but they just as quickly brushed me off. I did learn their names after a bit of prodding. Zavala and Ikora. They then sent me up the stairs to the main area, or what I assumed was the main area, for my gun. It was a scout rifle, barely being held together. What a shame. It could be fixed though. Once again, I stopped. Well, I guess I had to be in some fighting with the brief glances. I was almost disappointed at the lackluster greeting I got, something really terrible must have happened. I got so wrapped in my thoughts that another memory happened to slip through.
"Trainee that is not how You put a weapon together! Don't you know anything? Were you raised under a rock or something?"
I freaked out, I'd never get through this hell.
"Hey, you alright? You're looking pale."
I shook my head. I could barely breath all of a sudden. I just needed to get away somewhere. Anywhere but here. I was glad that Arthur was right beside me.
"Let's go see Amanda, see if she can fix the ship to get you out of here for a bit. If not, we can just go back out and wander?"
He offered to me. I nodded and was barely making any noise. As we made our way towards Amanda she informed us we would need to find a warp drive to actually travel with this ship. Arthur looked like he was annoyed. Clearly, I wasn't the only one who needed to rest. Amanda coldly turned her back to us. Okay, someone better have died because this was getting ridiculous. I know that I may be a little different than normal but seriously? My aggravation and frustration reached its peak and I took of sprinting. I had never run as fast as I did then. The wonderment and amazement seemed to completely leave me. Arthur got me back into the ship and we just flew around for a while. I couldn't tell you how much time had passed and I stewed in my thoughts. I was angry, almost getting an unwelcomed feeling. I slammed my fists into the console area.
"What the fuck is wrong with everyone. It's like there's no fucking life in them. Someone better have fucking died or the world better be ending because that was no way to great someone who is brand new. Who the fuck do they think they are? Fucking shit, that is not fucking okay, at fucking all, damn bastards."
Arthur blinked.
"A guardian should not curse like that..."
I gave him a glare and a mechanical laughter reverberated across the ship's hull. I blinked in confusion which made the little ghost laugh harder. He was joking. Pulling my strings, the little shit. I couldn't help but laugh along with him.
"Thanks for that, Arthur. I needed the laugh!"
Arthur glided down in front of me.
"Your welcome! I wasn't sure if you would be able to tell I was being sarcastic or not."
I gave him a grin.
"I didn't know you knew what sarcasm was!"
He seemed to be ruffled at that.
"Of course!"
We laughed again. The playful banter between easing the tensions of the day and putting our troubled minds at ease. Arthur looked out towards the landscape.
"Do you ever get tired floating around like that?"
Arthur contemplated before giving his answer.
"Not really no."
I smiled a gentle smile.
"Would you like the story of king Arthur now? I may not remember all of it, but I remember most of it."
Arthur chirped and affirmative in unbridled excitement.
"So there was a magical witch, a good one mind you, and she placed a sword into a stone saying whomever pulled the sword out has the qualities of a king and therefore shall become king or something like that. For years people tried with no luck until a poor boy saw that his friend was being beaten around by a guard and looked for anything to fight with. Well he grabbed the sword and pulled. Everyone had stopped around him and bowed. He was then king. His friend turned out to be a great magician that protected him in turn. Arthur was known for his kindness and not one person ever again fell into the grip of the poor in the kingdom. He protected their borders for years until his untimely death at the hands of his jealous son. But, that's all I can remember of the story. I know there was something else with a female involved, but I don't remember it well enough to tell that part."
The ghost blipped happily.
"We should try and find the story in old archives as we explore!"
I cast a sidelong glance at the ghost.
"You really love stories don't ya!"
Arthur seemed to nod his entire frame in agreement.
"So if I'm Arthur you must be the magician in this tale."
I laughed. The way Arthurs mechanical mind worked bemused me to know end.
"I guess that's pretty accurate."
Arthur than tilted his body, I guess he was trying to tilt his head...or lack thereof one.
"So, do you want to fight that archaeon now?"
I nodded my head and sped off looking for a place to land. I'm not sure how I learned to fly the ship, but I'll just pass it of as revival knowledge!
Most of the first year there I spent trying to find myself, trying to find answers. It is boring to tell all that so I'm going to save that for a rainy day. Some pretty big events did happen but I missed out because I was dead set on finding out who I was. Days turned into months and months turned into a year for anything of substance happened. I did finally meet the vanguard properly and they apologized for their, rudeness, when we first met. They had found some big bad guy or whatever was still alive and kicking. Whatever, didn't concern me, again I was so wrapped up in what happened to me I couldn't care less about other people... That did change a year later...
Authors Note: That is chapter one, seriously, long time to write this. I do have chapter 2 and 3 outlined, but not edited. It may take about 2 weeks for the next one. Thanks for reading my story, I've had this idea stuck in my head for awhile now Just never wrote it down! Let me know what you think! First time writing a destiny fic so well see how it goes!
