A/N: I apologise for this being as late as it is. I was hoping to have this uploaded By the end of June, but then er….family drama happened and I just…couldn't.

Anyways, there's an author's note at the bottom, enjoy the epilogue!

Disclaimer: The following is a non-profit fanfiction. Destiny and all of its supplementary materials are owned by Bungie, including any liberties I take with the lore. I only own Fireteam Storm and other OCs. Please support the official release.

Saga 02: The Monster of Luna

Arc 04: Crota's End

Chapter 36: Kings and Queens

The Last City

Tower Hospital

(No Surprises- Heavypiano)

Eris…I doubt you can hear me but…I am sorry…

Eris Morn blinked, her three eyes focusing as sunlight filtered through the thin white blinds. She sat up slightly, looking around. She was in a hospital room, with wires hooked up to her body moving to various machines monitoring her vitals. She blinked, taking in the space before looking at her bandaged arms.

Nearby, sat in a chair was a Titan, a woman, with her nose in some video game. She looked up, eyes expressing a mix of surprise and slight relief.

"You're awake," Anora gasped in a faint Irish lilt, putting the game down before running and sticking her head out the door. "Oi! Seth! Sofia! Get the Vanguard, she's awake!"

Eris stared, focused on her open palms. Chewing her bottom lip, she summoned the small, black bone that had been her guide and stared at it intently. It was silent. Eris let out a quiet chuckle, one that quickly grew into raucous laughter before turning into tears of joy. Eris dropped her Blind Clutch, bringing her knees to her chest as she sobbed. The Titan ran to her side.

"Hey, hey…" she said quietly.

Eris looked at the Titan, tears and snot streaming down her face as she smiled. "H-he's dead," she whispered, taking Anora's hand to her cheek as she broke down completely. "I'm free."

Anora took her hand, holding her as she sobbed.

Anora's teammates brought in a fresh outfit. Despite Eris's insistence on privacy, Seth insisted she be watched. Evidently the Gunslinger was still distrustful of her. Anora agreed to stay, facing the wall as Eris got changed into more comfy attire before the three escorted her to the Vanguard.

Murmurings from the people around her mentioned that, in the aftermath of Omnigul, Kayla and her friends had run off to the Moon. No one seemed entirely sure why they ran, but most of the mutterings seemed to centre on Eris.

Very suddenly, all eyes were on her. Eris hung her head, trying to make herself small.

"He got a chair to the face," the Warlock, Sofia, said chipperly.

"What?" Eris asked, surprised at the bluntness of the statement.

"Seth," Sofia clarified. "They hit him in the face with a chair. You shoulda heard him." She coughed, speaking gruffly. "Those bastards! I'll get them for this! Nyur nyur nyur!"

"I sound nothing like that!" Seth protested angrily, Sofia sticking her tongue out in response.

"Children!" Anora snapped. "Please."

It was the murmuring of Kayla's doubt the group approached the Hall of Vanguard. Fireteam Storm were stood at one end of the table. The Sunbreaker…Athena? She was noticeably absent. Whilst most of the obvious injuries had been healed by their Ghosts, the shifting and anxious tapping gave away the obvious- they had seen and battled Crota, and just barely won.

"…Toland said he wasn't sure it would work," Kayla said quietly.

"It will have worked," Delta said firmly. Whatever the subject was, Eris could tell he wasn't entirely sure himself.

Shifter's head perked up, the Hunter looking behind him. When he saw Eris, he nudged Jaeger with his elbow. The Bladedancer turned, a shocked expression on his face.

"No fucking way," he gasped.

The rest all looked at him in confusion before one by one they all saw Eris. When her eyes met Eris's, something in Kayla snapped and the Warlock collapsed on her knees in tears. Delta knelt beside her, rocking her while he held her.

While Kayla calmed down Eris sat with Hayley, curious about what had happened. The Sunsinger told them what had unfolded in the Pit. The needle between realities, the bridge. Ir Yût, and Crota. Eris was surprised to here that the spirit of Toland lingered on Luna and had hinted that the Oversoul's destruction could have saved Eris, theoretically. She chuckled in bewilderment. Perhaps the old man really was only human.

When Hayley admitted the entire gambit rested on the possibility that the Oversoul could be destroyed Kayla's relief that Eris was alive finally came into perspective. Eris stared at her hands.

"What now?" she whispered to herself.

"By the Light, they brought the Speaker!" an analyst gasped before being hastily shut up by their colleague.

Eris's head shot up, seeing the Speaker flanked by the Vanguard. He gazed over the room. "Everyone but Fireteam Storm, the Vanguard and Eris Morn please leave the room," he said gently.

The room emptied quickly, with Fireteam Fenrir reluctantly following. The Speaker stood before Storm, the Vanguard at their usual spots, while Eris stood beside the Guardians. The Speaker looked over them.

"Where is your sixth?" he asked.

Kayla said nothing, her head low. Delta glanced at her. "We…" he began, then sighed. "We don't know. She took off when we landed."

The Speaker nodded understandingly. "A Hive God is no easy feat," he said.

"She just needs time-" Delta began.

"We will let Athena know that she can contact us when she is ready to," the Speaker interjected. "I am certain we will have a full picture from your reports, regardless."

Silence.

"Before I continue, I wish to let you all know that the Vanguard is grateful for the actions you have taken on Luna," the Speaker said. "However…"

Kayla noticeably sighed, closing her eyes.

"These are actions you have taken upon yourselves, and they were actions not only unsanctioned by the Vanguard but in direct defiance of orders." The Speaker heaved a heavy sigh. "I…appreciate that the Vanguard does not have a proper command structure as opposed to the FOTC, and I understand that Guardians have the ability to do as they please, so long as they do not endanger humanity."

"But we didn't-" Delta said.

"You have repeatedly defied orders and done as you pleased," the Speaker said, his raised voice clashing with the calm nature of his tone. "We have decided that your team will be monitored."

"If…I am may," Kayla said, looking up at the Speaker. "They were following my orders. I insisted. They shouldn't be blamed for…"

"It was a mutual agreement," Shifter said over her.

"We all agreed to go," Jaeger said.

"We weren't forced," Hayley nodded. "Athena would say the same."

"You punish her, you punish all of us," Delta finished.

The Speaker nodded. "We know. Do not misunderstand this decision, we are fully aware this was done to save the life of a friend. One we intended to work with if she will let us."

Eris froze up a little, saying nothing.

"As for you, Miss Ashcroft," the Speaker said. "You will be given a special assignment. Commander Venj, if you may?"

Kayla turned, seeing an Awoken woman in a eyepatch with hair tied in a bun enter the room. "Speaker," she greeted. "Commander Zavala, Cayde, Ikora."

The Vanguard all nodded, and the Speaker continued. "You will be our Emissary for the Reef. The Queen has expressed interest in strengthening our relationship into a complete alliance. And, despite your recklessness, you have proven to be one of our most valuable Guardians as of late."

"You mean this is an exile," Jaeger snarked. "Fucking joke…"

"A year-long assignment," the Speaker corrected. "The alternative is that you would be confined to the Tower, by orders of the Consensus."

"The Conse-?!" Delta blurted out. "You know how many Guardians those bastards threw away at Mare Imbrium!?"

"Delta!" Kayla said firmly. "Guys… Please don't argue. It'll be ok. Just…make sure Athena's alright."

Delta and Jaeger glared at the Speaker but backed down. The Speaker gave an apologetic nod. "Which leaves you, Miss Morn."

"M-Me?" Eris asked nervously.

"You are no longer tied to Crota," he said. "What would you like to do now?"

The Reef

Vestian Web

Queen's Bay

A few weeks later…

Prince Uldren Sov strode down the grand hallway that connected the temporary royal quarters to the greater structures of the Queen's Bay, working his jaw. The door opened out to a plaza strung up between stray asteroids and repurposed space-faring vessels of all kinds woven together to create a port town of sorts. Earth-born Awoken would liken it to abandoned settlements on the coast, though the hustling and bustling of people and the other Vestian ships coming to and from the Bay showed that the Reef's inhabitants where very much in their prime. Uldren gazed up at the purple glow of the Reef's sky, smiling at the Awoken ships that dotted the sky. A Guardian ship flew by and Uldren's smile faltered to a bitter scowl as he remembered why he'd come here. First that stupid girl that had the Gate Lord's eye and now this!

Stood at a balcony was a woman cloaked in brown cloth. Her posture confirmed that she was a Guardian and, if the circumstance were different, Uldren would have thrown her off the balcony at least once to get a reaction.

Maybe twice if he was feeling that way out.

As it stands, Mara had already told him this one was different. He tutted to himself in disgust before sauntering down the steps. The Guardian seemed to have already noticed his presence, as she'd turned to face him before he'd reached the bottom. Uldren's smirk quickly gave way to minor disgust when all three eyes considered his normally stone-faced glare.

"You," she murmured quietly, her voice muffled by the scarf she wore.

Uldren gave a pitying sigh when he realised who she was. Guardian or not, Eris had always been a valuable informant to the Reef. Still…

"Say what you want, then get out," he said harshly. "We don't have time for this right now."

Eris tilted her head questioningly. "In the past Her Majesty has always-"

"In the past our nav lanes weren't clogged up with Guardians!" Uldren snapped, pointing at another two flying by.

Eris turned to the sky then back at Uldren. "…I don't think Eververse Trading counts," she remarked slyly. Uldren huffed and Eris continued. "Last I heard your Queen was on the far side of the Belt. What's she doing here?" Her question was backed up by a casual gesture to the normally cheap hotel that dominated the area behind them.

Uldren's brow twitched in annoyance. "If the Guardians knew you and she were in contact, it would be detrimental to her plans," he said flippantly.

Eris Morn nodded once. "Very well," she said, straightening herself as she stepped forward. Though faint, the tell-tale signs of a limp were there. "I come with word from beyond."

Uldren rolled his eyes then beckoned her to follow. When they were safely in the confirms of the hotel Uldren turned his head slightly to spoke. "What even happened to you?" he asked. "Last I heard you went on some suicide mission to the Hellmouth and then…"

He trailed off when he finally made the connection. "Ah…forgive me," Uldren said quickly. "I…"

"Oh? Is the great Uldren Sov showing sympathy?" Eris asked mockingly.

Uldren grit his teeth. "I am not totally without principle."

The pair ascended the stairs in silence until Uldren spoke again. "Those Ghosts then…" he said quietly. "You don't have one?"

Eris stopped, turning to face him. She felt the memory of Brya burning in her mind. "…No," she agreed quietly before speaking up. "My next death will be my last."

Uldren bowed his head solemnly. "I know that feeling," he remarked dryly.

When they arrived Uldren opened the room door revealing four people inside. One of them was Queen Mara Sov, radiating regal beauty from a throne. Hovering beside her were two women in black cowls, their gem-like augments gently humming. Before them was another Guardian adorned in a robe that, combined with his helmet, made him appear to be a phoenix. A chipperly Ghost hovered above his shoulder.

"Ooooo," she said upon seeing Eris. "Look! Look! It's that Hive girl everyone's been talking about!"

"Sagira," the man said firmly, his voice soft but strong. "Be kind."

"I am being kind!" she protested, looking at Eris's neutral expression." …Oh! I'm sorry, I get excited around new people. The amount of time Osiris here spends on Mercury doesn't leave much in the way of…company. Y'know, besides himself."

Eris gave a wary nod in agreement. She glanced at the man but flinched instantly. The Light he radiated hurt her eyes. Osiris seemed to notice this. "Don't feel the need to apologise," he said calmly. Osiris turned his head back to Mara, bowing. "Your Grace. Thank you for your gracious welcome."

The Queen inclined her head slightly.

"Before we begin," Eris spoke out. "I will say this."

Eris cautiously tilted her head to the throne. The Queen waved her hand in assent, and Eris's eyes darted between the two other women. They shifted, whispers emanating from them. Uldren's eyes narrowed but he said nothing.

"Your Grace," Eris continued, Mara holding a finger to silence the women either side of her. "I am not here for you."

The Queen eyed her, expression unchanged. Eris's lips tightened slightly, then resumed their usual stony mien.

"I have no wish to play politics," Eris said. "I have no grievance with the City, not anymore. I have no grand hopes to end the war against the Darkness, as I have come terms with the knowledge that I will not see its end. I am here for one battle, and one alone, because it is a battle we must all fight. Together or separately. I will warn the defenders…together or separately. That I will do anything."

She paused, feeling the urge to scream but she swallowed it down. "I will do anything to end Oryx."

Silence.

Eris kept her ambiguous gaze on Mara as the Queen straightened, her lips curved into a small smile. "Well said," she said with slightly amusement. "So let us end him."

Deep Space

(Path to Oryx- Destiny: The Taken King OST)

The mighty Dreadnaught churned in hunger, echoes of Hive and unlife calling deep from within. Storming through the vessel was the shadow of a mighty god, wings outstretched in ways that could eclipse even a black hole. Behind was a sword that chewed its way through the chitin floor beneath him, the screams of the dead wailing in pain as it ate.

The mighty god arrived at a hall, lined with seats. He raised his sword, slamming it into the ground. Several shadows illuminated the seats as several figures arrived.

"Where is Crota?!" the beast demanded. "Your lord! Your godly prince?! Your princely god!"

There was a reluctant silence.

"Tell me no lies!" he growled. "I feel his absence like a hole in my stomach."

Two Wizards floated out from the shadows. "Father," they spoke in unison.

The god's face tightened. "Ir Halak. Ir Anûk. What do you have to say? Where. Is. Your brother?"

"Dead," Ir Anûk said, quickly regretting how quick she spoke.

Her father growled questioningly.

"Felled," Ir Halak reiterated just as quick. "By warriors of the Sky."

Her father bristled at the mention of it. "What?" he asked pointedly.

"Systematically stripped of tribute," Ir Anûk continued, immediately regretting the tone. "And…killed…in his Throne."

The beast sighed in barely contained rage. "And where were these warriors from? TELL ME!"

Ir Anûk faltered, leaving Ir Halak to take over. "The planet, Sol 3," she said. "That was where his armies were last positioned. The World's Grave states the locals call it Earth."

Their father's expression contorted into one of vengeful fury. "Gather the fleet!" he ordered. "We shall go to Sol…and bring the wrath of Oryx upon them."

Fireteam Storm will return in

Become Legend

The Wolf Rebellion

Closing A/N: And that's it! Crota's dead. And it didn't take me two years to finish this one! I'm going to be taking a few months off since I still need to plot out The Wolf Rebellion properly, and I'm wanting to have a few chapters written and ready to go so that this doesn't get those big content droughts, and to be honest I just want a break for a bit. See you next time.

Love ya

Shadow