Blows off the dust, Hello there! Long time no see FanFiction. You might be wondering why I was so inactive. Well, because when I write the dirty I don't upload it here in fear of getting my account perma-banned. Got inspired by another author, which I don't know if they have an FF account, but our Guardians are stone walls when it comes to emotion. Time to build it up and then knock it down. Welcome to A Scholar's Burden! It's good to be back...
IMPORTANT NOTE (8/20/19): I have a friend, whose opinion I take highly, pointed out the beginning of this feels too hastily written. Due to this, I will be rewriting the prologue. Not fully, but like adding in some information and editing out some portions. This edit will come at the same time I next update this story. So please, for the love of the Traveler, have the smallest smidgen of patience. I will see you all when I next update.
NOTE: Finished, as you can see. Most of it stayed the same, other bits changed. Enjoy the New Prologue!
-Horus
September 2726
The Black Garden is defeated. After months of struggle, my fireteam has defeated the Heart of the Black Garden. The amount of Vex that infested that Garden was almost too much. The amount of Darkness pushing against my Light was like a shroud. My fireteammates were also so convinced that I did most of the work. Yet, the only thing I did was save their asses when they decided to go out into the line of fire. Those Minotaurs and their Void cannons pack quite a punch. My muscles just ache thinking about it.
I had thrown my biggest Nova Bomb to date and holy hell it was glorious. I'm a lot more excited than I can convey in writing. Val thought it helpful if I write down when I do something worthy of the City. I guess saving the Traveler deems a journal entry. Hence my sarcasm.
At this moment, I'm trying to hide away because all this praise is a lot for a 'KinderGuardian'. I don't want it to go to my head. It'll be the one thing that will kill me in the future, arrogance.
January 2727
Ever since Eris Morn, that creepy three-eyed lady showed up, the Hive have been more active than, well, ever. I've had the unfortunate pleasure of being selected to help stop Crota, Son of Oryx. I've taken down the Fist, Might, and Will of Crota. My eardrums still hurt from the crazy witch's screams. I was happier that I finally had some peace and quiet than actually killing that bitch.
I didn't go on the raid to end the son of Oryx, as I was needed elsewhere, but that's for another time. All I know now is that Eris Morn's fireteam has been avenged and they can hopefully finally rest in everlasting peace.
March 2727
Which brings me to the place I'm currently at right now: The Reef, or more specifically The Vestian outpost. I had to come back after having owed the Queen a favor. The Fallen House of Wolves has revolted against the Queen. She needed assistance and since I'm the lucky one out of my team who was Awoken, I had slightly more leeway than my Human friends.
The Reef doesn't particularly like Guardians, even Awoken ones, but they are slight, and I mean, slightly nicer to me than everyone else. And I mean, ever so slightly. Petra Venj has been nothing but nice and it's hard for me to trust her when she's being so nice.
I do honestly think she's really appreciative of the help. It saves Corsairs' lives and only risks mine.
Skolas was quite the elusive Fallen to track down. He attacked House of Kings and House of Winter, and House of Devils. He was trying to unite the forces of the Fallen, something that wasn't seen since Twilight Gap. Skolas, this 'Kell of Kells' used so much Vex tech that it made me wonder why? What does he have to gain from this? Questions to answer as the Hunt continues.
April 2727
The Hunt is over. Skolas is defeated and taken prisoner by the Queen. Petra thanked me for my help, even some of the Queen's Guard thanked me. I felt so drained after jumping across platforms that teleported in and out of time. So when I had to actually fight Skolas, he brought the other half of the Wolves army that strangely disappeared halfway through Twilight Gap. He pulled the entire damn house through time. When I finally brought Skolas to his knees, all I wanted to do was kill him, but due to the Queen's demand, I had to force myself to go away.
All I wanted right now was some food and a goddamn nap. I dunno if I'll even write any more journals, everything seems quiet now. Maybe I'll try these Trials of Osiris, might keep me occupied.
October 2727
I was wrong. I was so wrong. Apparently Oryx, yeah remember his son, came to our system and the Awoken tried to stop them but were wiped out. No one knows the status of the Queen or the King of Crows.
After I explored the distress signal on Phobos, these enemies are just different. They looked like Cabal, but they weren't. There was this giant Knight who was black and white. He spit fire at me. Val didn't have any information on them. Yet, Eris did, surprisingly. They are called Taken. Oryx is the Taken King.
He thankfully can't take Guardians because of the Light, but he won't stop until we are dead. We had to act fast and there was only one thing I could do now.
We needed to fight them and save our world... again.
May 2728
Everyone knew Evan Vaash was a little carefree, but had the remarkable traits of a Warlock. Ikora Rey had personally mentored him in the Voidwalker Subclass, but when he felt a spark calling to him, he answered. Just in time too. The Taken King was persistent, taking anything he could get his claws on
He traveled far and wide across the Solar System, searching for this spark. His search ended at Blind Watch, a Crucible arena of all places. This has been his favorite map. It was where he got his first Seventh Column medal, earning the Crucible Handler's approval. If that didn't boost his ego, then nothing else will.
"Hey Val, I think we found it…." Evan said to his Ghost, who wore a small rosy shell, his Ghost's favorite out of all the shells Evan had crafted for her.
"Really? What was your first clue, Evan?" Val retorted. It was good that she did, someone has to keep him in line. He may be a Warlock but has some of the behaviors of a Hunter. Even Cayde took notice from it and was interested, but backed off when Ikora threatened him saying and Evan swears on his Ghost, 'Stay away from my pupil or I swear to the Traveler, Cayde, you will get a worse punishment than Shaxx did in my Crucible days.' Cayde didn't talk to Evan much, out of fear for his own life. Smart move there.
"The sparking sky or the amount of Vex surrounding said sparks." Time to go to work, Evan thought as he pulled his Scout Rifle, Angel's Advocate, off his shoulder and went for a 'casual' stroll through Blind Watch. These Vex felt so easy compared to the amount of Taken he's fought.
His mentor managed to contact him, "I see you found what you were looking for, now the question is, are you ready to face the Storm?" Ikora seemed to know what was going on.
Evan scoffed, "I was born ready Ikora," He said as he called upon the Storm. He didn't try to control it, no, he aimed to calm it and redirect it towards his enemies. Once he got the Storm's attention, he was ready.
He was close to the edge of the arena, where a fall would certainly kill him if he wasn't careful, yet he was always calculating. Val found this funny as normally his calculations are eighty-five percent accurate fifty percent of the time.
The Storm accepted his entrance and filled him with the Arc energy needed to complete his test. Outside of Evan's view, he disappeared from the world, as if he had never existed, but that was far from the truth. The Storm felt light, yet hyper as it danced over his skin. Evan felt the Light flow within his veins, giving him strength and the most peculiar thing, he felt as if the Traveler itself was there, embracing him.
Val felt it so much more than Evan. she felt as if her 'parent' was telling her it would be alright, to trust her Guardian. Val regarded Evan as a strong individual, who also had a small problem with the ladies. It wasn't he was unapproachable, quite the opposite actually, they wouldn't leave him alone. Val had searched for him for so long and when she found him, she was so overprotective that she wouldn't transmat him to the Crucible arenas or to the City streets to socialize. Ghosts always seem to be like that, overbearing and protective of their Guardian. Val felt a sense of warmth as if the Traveler had a physical form and it hugged her. She closed her optic as the feeling overtook her.
She found herself staring at Evan with a newfound sense of love. She loves her Guardian, not in an intimate way, but in a companion kind of way. Someone, he could tell all his secrets to and then promptly tease him about it later.
Evan felt such a rush that the Storm allowed him to test it out. He activated Stromtrance and laid waste to any Vex he could get his lightning covered fingers on. He was whooping and laughing the whole time. It was the most excited Val has ever seen him.
As the super faded away, Evan felt a newfound sense of calmness, "Wow… that was a rush," he whispered to himself, yet Ikora was listening intensively.
"Congratulations Warlock, you are the first Stormcaller of the New Age. Come home and we will discuss this new development in detail." Ikora gently ordered, "but I wouldn't be against you if you went out and continued to 'test' this newfound power if you so choose."
See, this is why Evan holds such a high opinion of her, she knows Warlocks thirst for knowledge and denying them that will make them get it anyway, without or without an order.
As Evan walked away, he realized something... He entered this place as a Voidwalker but exited as a Stormcaller. Everyone back at the Tower was going to be so jealous. But first, he had some Taken to kill… Those weird cretins are really quite annoying. It's a warning to Oryx.
Upon returning to the Tower, Evan was getting all the attention, the sparks on his arms weren't going away, much to his dismay, and everyone was wondering what in Traveler's name is going on. Other Warlocks stopped by to inspect him while he was busy cleaning his weapons, all the dust from Mars clogs the barrels and receivers, jamming them.
"There's no way he's one of them. They haven't been seen for centuries!" An Exo Warlock said.
"Believe what you will, for I do not question it," Evan replied smoothly, not looking up.
An Awoken Huntress was not interested in the sparks on his forearms, she was more like gazing at his face, watching it scrunch up in concentration as he cleaned his weapons, his Ghost hovering slightly behind him, helping him put the weapon back together. She thought it cute.
"Definitely not cute, I prefer manly." Evan teased.
The Huntress cursed herself, she didn't think she said it aloud. "Sorry," she mumbled.
"Don't be… Have we met?" Evan asked.
The Huntress straightened, "No, we haven't. Name's Lena Tham."
Evan's eyes twinkled, "An Awoken, here I thought we were hard to come by. Name's Evan Vaash, a pleasure to make your acquaintance Hunter." Whether this Hunter knows it or not. Evan has had a small crush on her for a while, but he avoided all contact with her thinking she was already taken, no pun intended.
"Likewise Warlock. How long have you been a Guardian, if you don't mind my asking." Lena inquired as she took off her helmet, revealing her face. She gazed at Evan's features, her light violet eyes staring into Evan's charcoal grey eyes, they may even have a slight silver tint to them.
Evan smiled, a genuine one, one he hasn't really smiled in a few years. HAving eye contact with her is more than he could ever ask for. "I've been around less than two decades, but have helped a great deal, and now with this." He references the sparks, "I can only imagine what's in store for me."
Lena was always watching Evan, she may or may not have had an itty-bitty crush on him as well, but she never made it known. She had thought he was taken as well. It's funny in a way.
"Your face is flushing, you're embarrassed, I don't know why you are. I can't be that intimidating, am I?" he teased in good nature.
Lena let out a small giggle but also brushed a strand of hair that fell out of her braid behind her ear, "You don't seem all bad… maybe a little egotistical, but not bad." Lena teased right back.
"Oh, that really stings Lena, you wound me in a way that I cannot heal," Evan said as he dramatically clutched his heart, purposely breathing heavily. His Ghost rolled her optic at his antics, before zapping him. "Hey! Val, that wasn't nice!" He complained, rubbing his now tingling ass.
"Evan, Ikora has requested your presence. She needs to talk to you about your new development." Val insisted, telling him silently that it was urgent. Evan looked at Lena, then back at Val.
"Go, your Vanguard needs you," Lena said, not getting mad that he's leaving. Maybe a little sad, but she quickly snuffed that feeling.
Evan didn't hide his sadness so well, "Aww, but I'm finally getting somewhere!" Lena's eyebrows perked slightly, what was he talking about? "Fine, it better be important if she is saying 'urgent'." He continued to ramble on about how 'she always interrupts me' and 'this is the fifth time in two days'. Lena couldn't contain her laughter at this point as she clutched her stomach. "Glad you think it's funny. You're not one of the only Stormcallers in existence right now."
Lena stopped laughing abruptly, "So, it's true? You really are one of them?"
Evan swore and his gaze hardened, and Lena's heart turned to mush. She already loved seeing that dominating gaze, "Yes, and I'd prefer to not have this slip. It's bad enough you know but add to the fact that I always have eyes on me, doesn't make it any easier. Now, it was a blessing to meet you, Lena Tham, but I must go, my people need me!" He said before his gaze softened and he was laughing at his own words. "Traveler almighty, I cannot believe I just said that."
Lena let out another giggle, "Go, Ikora doesn't like to be kept waiting."
"Don't I know it, I have stories for that, but another time yeah?" Evan asked, hoping she would say yes.
"I'd like that, spicy ramen?" Lena suggested. Evan had to restrain over exaggerating her answer. He really likes her, and wants to get to know her.
"Yes, that is my guilty pleasure. The one good thing about hanging out with Cayde.. Well, other than his super corny jokes" Evan said while reassembling his weapons and having Val transmat them to his personal storage.
"In a few days? I'll have my Ghost ping you." Lena asked, getting his Ghost details means she'll have a way to chat with him.
"Sure I-"
"Warlock Evan Vaash, please report to Ikora before she blasts you off the Tower. I also like living." Cayde's voice rang out over the Tower PA system.
"Sounds like someone got called to the principal's office." Lena joked.
"Oh, haha, you're so funny Lena," Evan said sarcastically as he walked down the stairs to the Vanguard Hall, his ears burning at the embarrassment getting called out.
"He's certainly an interesting fellow." Lena's Ghost, Quinn, observed. He was watching Lena's heartbeat and he knew she fancied him, longer than she realized.
"He is," she said, almost dreamlike. She was thinking of ways to get him to say her name...
"Stop those thoughts this instant young lady!" Quinn scolded, "Not every guy wants that, but Lena, dear, control your hormones. Maybe in time."
"I hope you're right," Lena mumbled, a hint of sadness covering her features.
"Dear child, when am I not?" Quinn quipped playfully. Lena only rolled her eyes and departed for patrol.
June 2728
The Taken War is over. Oryx is dead and everything has gone back to normal. My new power, Stormcaller, is quite amazing. It is like a feeling I cannot describe. Even though I've had it for a month now, each day feels like I've had it forever.
The world has felt significantly lighter since Oryx's defeat on his Dreadnought. I wish I could have been there, but I have many plans to act on and one of those involves a certain Huntress I know.
Four years later
June 2732, Tower Apartment Complex
As I'm writing this, SIVA has been controlled and I'm an official second-generation Iron Lord now. So, that's always a plus. I acted on one of my plans. Lena Tham is now my wife and has been for the past few years. I finally made it official.
My other plans involve training other Warlocks in the Storm. Turns out, that is possible. It is surprisingly easy. They have their own sparks and tests to do.
Yet, something is wrong. I have had this feeling since a year ago now and it got worse. I don't know what to do besides tell the Vanguard and stew about it.
"Lena! Where did you put the- Never mind!" Evan said as he found what he was looking for. These past four years have been generous, but he couldn't help but think about the near future.
Lena has been keeping eyes on Evan, ever since that date they had, they hit it off. They started to go on patrol together. They were around each other more, and their Ghosts teased them about it to no end. Val and Quinn ended up urging them to 'tie the knot' as the old saying goes.
Evan, or as he is known as in the Crucible, Cruz, had grown fond of Lena and vice versa. They fell in love, not uncommon, but bizarre. Normally Warlocks and Hunter avoid each like the plague, but not these two. They got to know each other and they just clicked. They both had a chill come up their spines as they admitted their feelings to each other. It seems the Traveler was playing matchmaker.
"What are you thinking about, love?" Lena asked as she wrapped her arms around Evan's neck while he stared out into the storm brewing outside.
"That feeling of angst still hasn't gone away, and it's been almost a year. It's grown with each and every passing day. I've tried everything, meditation, herb-induced hallucinations, everything. Yet, the feeling I have refuses to go away," Evan explained, turning around and kissing Lena.
"You think something might happen?" she whispered after they separated to breathe.
"Not might, will." Evan corrected, somberly.
"You know, I'll be with you every step of the way, right?" Lena questioned.
"I know, and I thank you for that. I love you, my little Huntress." Evan said watching Lena's face flush. "I love it when you do that." he murmured as he traced the energy on her face. It was swirling energy, stark white, in contrast to her ocean blue skin.
They could tell where this was going as they were making their way to the bedroom, but then the Tower shook and the alarms blared.
"This is not a drill; we are under attack. I repeat we are under attack! All available Guardians, battle stations!"
Evan and Lena locked eyes and they knew what they had to do. Both of their Ghosts transmatted their armor on and left for the Plaza. They needed to figure out what was going on.
Little did they know, it was going to be a rough few days, and they might never see each other again.