Act IV - Sorrow and Acceptance
Chapter 9 - Patience and Time
[Last City, Tower, Accommodations]
[Ceres' POV]
"zzZZZz...?" I found my once warm bed to be rather airy, my blanket was gone and someone had opened the blinds from where the light shined against my face. In vain my hand met with nothing, and my body was against something far less poofy, only now do I realize I wasn't in my bed but on the sofa, and someone was here, humming? "...Ugh...?"
"Morning~" Was that Zane's - wait! My eyes shot open immediately, cheeks burning as I remembered that Zane had come to visit me, even knocked the sense into me after my stupid vendetta toward getting stronger, pushing everyone I cared about away... I was an idiot, I even said it myself that I couldn't have gotten this far without them, when did I become a hypocrite?
Then I listened to him sing and play his guitar, and it was amazing, relaxing too as I... slept against his arm... with my head on his shoulder... oh my God, why am I such an idiot!? Rubbing the sleep from my eyes, while also covering my red face, I peeked between my fingers to see Zane sitting there, a mug in his hand with the right working on tuning a guitar string. He was smiling, just like always.
"Had a nice rest, Ceres?" Oh nooooo! My right eye peeked over at Taka, a mirthful grin on her face gave me the indication she came in and saw me asleep on his shoulder, probably with Zane passed out all the same, how did Rika and Ghost take that? Argh! This is not fun! "Don't worry I won't pry."
"Thank God..." I sighed
"Zane told me everything," I went back to hiding my face, refusing to budge as I fell back onto the length of the sofa, whining defeatively into my hands. "In honesty, you're taking this far better, he saw me and CT and immediately started to trip over his words trying to explain himself, all while making sure not to wake you."
"In my defense, I was scared of getting lectured by CT..." Zane narrowed his eyes, holding a hand to cover his mouth toward Taka. "She bores me."
"I am quite capable of hearing, thank you!" Said ghost glared down at Zane, his eyes darted up to her then back to Taka, pointing up
"My point exactly, what did she say?" That made Taka crack a small snigger, trying her hardest to remain mellow in the faces of us and CT
CT grumbled, floating off toward Taka's room. "Honestly, you two are impossible sometimes; And Ceres, darling?" I pulled myself up to look over the sofa, eyes locked to CT who was gazing back passively. "I do hope you are okay, you've had us worried sick."
"I... I am a bit now, thank you, CT." She bobbed once and floating away, while I turned around, head low as I placed my hands on my lap, sighing once with the weight of all I've done still sunk against my mind, tugging with infectious intent. Like bile in my throat, I finally spat out my regret. "I have no real excuse... I was... stupid... blinded by some desire I thought was right... it nearly cost me more than just a friend..."
Shaking my head, I wiped a tear from my eye. "I'm sorry for... what I said... I was lost, the things I've said to you both... especially you, Zane," I pulled my head up to look at him, trying with all of my heart to hold it together, my entire head a maelstrom of nonsense I couldn't navigate alone. "What kind of friend would push someone close to them away?"
His smirked softened, glancing to Rika who appeared before us. "The kind that at her core, is a selfless person, despite everything I know, everything you do is with that ideal in mind, so I have no reason to scorn you."
"We can work beyond this together, bit-by-bit until you're able to look back on all that has transpired and see how far you've come, I know I have to." Taka enforced, a hand through the white locks of her hair, grazing past her golden eye
"You're not alone; Whatever comes next, be it Fallen, Vex, Hive or Cabal, I'll always be by your side, Guardian." Ghost nudged my cheek, my finger skating over his red stripe. After two days that stretched on for eternity, I felt the steady sensation in my chest tick faster, fill me with a radiant warmth that I had subconsciously yearned for
"...I don't deserve any of you," My smile was small but meaningful, the notion of their love had that fear of loss dull, I had lost a friend, someone who wanted to do what was right, but he gave me a chance to see this, the happiness I had taken for granted, I will never let that gift be taken from me again. "But I don't think I could give any of you up."
They smiled. "Glad you see it our way."
With a warm cup of tea resting on my lap, I turned my attention to Taka, noting it was one o'clock in the afternoon. "Taka, were you out late? Since you came back home and found us still asleep."
Her lips pursed, then took a small sip from her cup. "Yes, I was invited by Dimi to watch a match, she said it was out in the EDZ and since I had the time I decided to join her, see her in action again."
"Bet she was loving that..." Zane murmured, though I don't think Taka caught his words as she continued
"It was... strange, to say the least," That grabbed our attention by the collar. "The match went on as normal, but... two Guardians... they were unlike anything I've seen before..."
[Flashback]
The match was held within the European Dead Zone, Widow's Court, once filled with towns were now left in ruin with nature retaking the land, tearing buildings apart, glossing over stone with moss and trees, while the cars were buried in mud and grass, a truly mystical place had formed in the wake of the Collapse and the absence of humanity. Taka watched from the comfort of the monitors stationed in an outpost controlled by the Tower, and from where she sat it didn't look good for Dimitri and her ally.
"Son of a-!" Dimitri's curse was silenced by gunfire, sharp, black needles sinking into the concrete barricade, some having sliced through her armor with such ferocity. The match was now a two-verses-two, Dimitri was alone and pinned by both Hunters at the far end of Widow's Court, using powerful, twisted handcannons to pin her down
The two in question were serious threats, draped in all blacks and greys, with both wearing Celestial Nighthawks, the beak tainted black with white eyes, their armor wasn't recognizable, something handmade from Fallen armor and debris. Clutched in their hands were duplicates of a legendary weapon.
It is most likely named after the thorn-like spikes on it. The handcannons were sleek, dark black, with many spikes adorning the sides, coiled around the frame and barrel toward the muzzle, as though Hive and Guardian weaponry unified to form such an abomination, a Weapon of Sorrow, Thorn.
Dimitri knew this too well, since these two were primarily after her head, she was associated with Summer, and she had claimed the original Thorn and purifying it into what was now known as 'Lumina', The Shadows of Yor didn't like that, and this was their means of 'justice', something she was getting sick of hearing.
"Give up, Anomaly, even you can't defend against weaponry with overpenetration!" The leader was on the right, standing atop a wall facing the church, Dredgen Fay. From the street below him came several more rounds slicing through the wall, one grazing Dimitri's bicep
"Hehehe, poor Lil o' Anomaly is scared~!" The cackling of Dredgen Rin had Dimitri wishing to just put an arrow between her eyes, but she had an audience on the edge of their seats, it would be a shame to waste it. "Come out, Come out, Anomaly~!"
"Oh gee, that's a really good idea! Why didn't I think of that - Go shove that lamp post up your ass!" Dimitri bellowed, plucking an arrow that was splintered by a single 'thorn' round, said black bullet sailing past her head
"This can all be behind us if you just behave and accept your fate, girl, otherwise we'll be sure to give people a show they wish they could forget," Fay warned her, loading a new cylinder into the receiver, firing another two rounds with a sickening sound emanating from the barrel
*Blam-Blam*
"DON'T YOU IGNORE ME!" All eyes were finally drawn to the fourth Guardian up on the roof of a nearby building, lowering a Hakke pulse rifle, Lyudmila-D, the beige rifle with the strip of orange across the sides of the receiver was nothing impressive, but it still took down two Thorn shots
~Hahaha! Looks like things are heating up down there!~
"I thought you said he was dead?" Fay sounded unimpressed by Reiner's entrance, the Titan gliding down to stand between the two Shadows and Dimitri, who quirked a brow, though he couldn't see her mirthful smile
"What? Come to save Lil o' me? My heartless chest beats for you." Her tease at the ill-tempered pervert had him snap his head around, visibly shaking with anger
"Bite me, brat! I'm only doing this to win, that's all!" His gaze shifted to the Shadows, Rin looking really annoyed, tapping Thorn's barrel to his own throat, poking himself
"No fair, no fair! I want to kill her!" Rin whined, but three rapid rounds to his chest made his attention sway for Reiner. "You'll do just fine though... I'll play with you."
"Go to hell!" Reiner raised Lyudmila, releasing the remainder of his magazine into Rin, who hopped around the street, getting struck did little to phase him, his own Thorn firing sharp prongs, Reiner flew back, reloading mid-glide as he slipped into the alleyway, with Rin following him, but finding no sign of the Titan, much to his confusion since he heard no flight above him
A 'Fwoosh-Clang' startled him out of the alley, seeing the golden hammer to his right, the claw hooked around his shoulder, pulling him down into a flaming knee, how Reiner hid behind a rusted car without Rin noticing had his head spin, along with his body that soared high, splashing down in a puddle next to Fay, himself casually reloading, effortlessly avoiding Dimitri's arrows.
"Okay, this is bothersome..." Dimitri muttered, knowing the two would use their Supers at any given moment, and while Dimitri was the best she couldn't outrun a bullet at the speed of light. Reiner soon joined her behind the slightly demolished barricade. "So, how's you?"
His flames died out, scoffing at her. "You know, if you want to hear it, I wasn't trying to make you strip, only remove your weapons, and... I was an idiot, alright?"
"You recorded that, Ray?" Dimitri hummed
"Of course, but he sounds sincere, or... is trying I think?" Ray replied softly, with Dimitri snorting a laugh
"Ehehehe, love it when I win," Clearing her throat she saw the two walking toward them slowly, clearly to instill fear. "Alrighty then, want to make up for making me nearly strip and for your pitiful excuse for an apology?"
"Screw you, I'm trying!" Dimitri was convinced, her ears wished for a better volume though. Pushing him back she pointed to the right wall of buildings
"Distract them with your nonsense, I've got a plan," Without giving him time to refuse, Dimitri sprinted through bullets, some slicing through her armor more, a chill coursing through her Light but it wasn't horrible, now out of sight, the two focused their attention on Reiner, yelling toward the buildings
"I'm not your lackey! You hear me!?" Turning around, he switched to his own sword, a silver broadsword with a blue T-guard, the edge laced with Void. "That dumbass better be quick..."
"Oh look, boring side character." Rin teased behind the safety of Fay, who simply raised Thorn again, cracking his neck
"You really wish to defend such a heretic, we are not monsters, we do not stray from the Light, simply apply the methods that Dredgen Yor learned was the true goal toward 'Peace', toward salvation." Fay preached to Reiner, the Titan making no effort to move, watching the clock on his HUD slowly tick down, but he simply lowered Crown-Splitter, sighing only once
"Idiots like you always take too long talking, never once getting to the point..." Reiner spoke dangerously low, his blade skimming the dirt, head raised to face the two Dredgens. "To sum up you want me to join you since I'm... 'unstable', right? That's where you're going?"
"Don't bother..." His body crackled with blue sparks, lightning coursing over his body, snapping at the car to his left. "I want to beat the Anomaly, to be the one on top. That will never change!"
"You know, 'Shadows' does suit you! Means you're always in mine, touching!" Dimitri sailed high over the buildings, landing on the wall previously occupied by Fay, their weapons crackling with embers, only for Fay to catch a glimmer of purple wedged on a windowsill, his gaze fixed with surprise
"Don't use your Light!" His call fell on death's ears, Rin raising his Golden Gun to Dimitri, the girl sitting on the wall with her helmet off, letting her hair flow comfortably in the wind, a scowl on her face filled with disdain. A ring of purple Shadowshot binds encompassed the street, spanning the roofs without them noticing at all, the anchors fixed to several points, one behind Dimitri too
"Void Suppression Field." Dimitri's fingers clicked, a flash of orange and gold filled her vision, yet faded away inches from her nose into weak, dying cinders, Rin's Light was gone, so was Fay's, the two opting to use their Thorns instead, while Dimitri explained herself, jumping down to walk ever-so-casually toward them, mocking how they moved before. "One of Tevis' tricks, took ages to master it, but now I can set a field to suppress an enemy's powers, Light or Darkness, though it takes alot of Light to conjure the prongs to connect."
Rin screamed, finding a sword embedded in his chest as Reiner lifted him high into the air, turning to thrash him through a car window, ghost appearing after a Willhelm Scream shook the ruins.
"You Shadows don't deserve the Traveler's Light, people who would use it to instill fear and segregate others, what makes you different from the Warlords? The Fallen? Even the Cabal? Guardians that abuse their gift for selfish goals should never have become Guardians in the first place."
Fay didn't falter so carelessly, even at Dimitri's insult. Reiner was forced to sway left, avoiding two Thorn rounds, followed by to boot to his chest, throwing Reiner back with some surprising force. Reiner jumped back to his feet with a push, seeing Fay charge him like a rugby player, so he steadied his from and watched as Fay raised Thorn, firing three shots that dug into flesh, but he remained firm, responding with a far faster slant of Crown-Splitter across Fay's jaw, sending him sprawling into the dirt near Dimitri.
Pushing up, Ray shook his head angrily and punched the ground, turning on his knees and standing back up to face the sly smirk of Dimitri, her hand taunting him forward. Fay retaliated, unleashing six final rounds to pierce stone and bark, flying through a cloud of smoke. Dimitri stood up again, hidden under a veil of smoke she prolonged with her enhanced state. With a palm-heel strike to Fay's chin, her fingers locked behind the hood, slamming the hawk-helmet against her knee to crack the metal plate, with a roundhouse kick enhanced by the Void, a massive pulse shattered the chestplate, Fay tumble to the ground again.
~I've seen enough, this match is over!~
The siren's blared, and the match had come to an end, the overtime had gone on for too long and in the end, it was two against one, Dimitri dusted herself off, rubbing some dirt off her cheek while Reiner sheathed his sword, the two approaching the kneeling Dredgen, who's finger's jiggled on the trigger of the fake Thorn.
"Aww, good match, but stick to my shadow next time, its better that way." Dimitri cooed mockingly, seeing the barrel of Thorn start to raise in slow motion, so even faster, her sidearm pressed against his forehead, the hammer pulled back
"Y-You...!" Bang! His body recoiled painfully, breaking the helmet even more while flopping to the dirt, Dimitri blew the smoke off her sidearm, holstering it with a spin
"Don't ever disgrace Summer's name around me again, pig" Dimitri kicked Fay's corpse, ghost watching her warily as her deathly scowl burrowed into it. "What are you looking at?"
"N-Nothing!" He went back to reviving his Guardian, while Dimitri gave Reiner a pat on the back
"Good job, you're a great distraction, pervert." While not the best thing to say to someone, Dimitri had a zero-tolerance for a reason, and Reiner was no different, though she knew what he was doing back then, it was just fun to lord it over him
"You're making it harder to feel sorry, you know?" Reiner growled, even while Dimitri shrugged, walking past him without so much as a glance. "Tell me something?"
"Depends." She replied, stopping momentarily
"What's the deal with you and these Edgy Freakshows?" Reiner saw her make no real response, her feet already moving away without looking back. "Hey! Answer me!"
"Sometimes its best to drop a subject before you dig up something worse," Dimitri drawled, hand raised to wave. "Until we meet again, Reiner, for better or for worse."
[Present Day]
[Ceres' POV]
"Woooow, a run-in with the Shadows of Yor!" Zane gaped with surprise, my head tilted at Taka's retelling of how the match went with Dimitri's input for what was said between them
"So the Shadows of Yor follow some Guardian's twisted form of 'Peace'?" While eerie, if they're still around then it meant the Vanguard kept a close eye on them, but it still made me wonder who this 'Dredgen Yor' was, a part of me rather resented the idea of knowing, sometimes ignorance is bliss
"A creepy quest for another day," Zane clapped his hands, grabbing his guitar. "Welp, I've overstayed my welcome, I'll see myself out."
"Wait - Uh, Zane..." I was hesitating, my head flooding with so many thoughts at once over the last three days, I had been giving myself grief for something out of my control, and thinking that what I was doing meant everyone would be safe, I was my own worst enemy. "A-Again I'm sorry for... everything - My head was completely out of it, I-I was saying things I shouldn't have-"
"Ah, it's alright!" He stopped me, waving me off happily. "If anything its good you can see that, proves you're already starting to move again, but not alone. There are plenty of Guardians to do missions, so take some time off until after the Festival, make plans with Taka too."
"Oh, I intend to do so." Taka confirmed from her spot, smiling as her arm wrapped around me, hugging me tightly. "Thanks again for knocking the sense into her silly head."
I had no room to complain, sighing as Zane slung the guitar on his back, waving away. "The day of the Festival I've got a surprise for you, I think it will get you back on your feet pretty quickly - Toodles!"
And with that, the man that held me down and berated me with logic left, and... it was honestly rather dishearting, I liked having Zane around to talk to, but there was tomorrow, and the days after, and I wanted to see how the others were doing too. I especially want to be here for Taka and CT, the sensation of being erased... I couldn't bear the thought of how that felt.
"Hey, Taka?" Asking her slowly, I stood up and made my way for the bathroom, I smell like I've been left in a desert for a week. Her eyes looked up from her phone. "You're the best roommate ever."
She snorted a chuckle. "Right back at you, Ceres, now go and drown in a bath while I get lunch prepped, you really do stick, blah." To make it transparent to me she waved a hand over her face, while I pouted shamefully
"Compliment you and that's what I get? Jerk." I slipped away from her laugh, Ghost bobbing beside me. "Say Ghost, think there's a way to learn how Zane did that trick back in the Vault? Where he looked like he fused two Supers into one?"
His shell narrowed. "I don't know of anything in the Archives, but I think I might know a Guardian that could help," Ghost's response gave me some hope for what my Light could do, maybe not with the same results as Zane, but close enough. "Now, for the sake of the occupants of this home, please get a bath."
"I'm going, I'm going, geez, give a girl a chance!" This must be divine punishment for my dumbass decisions over two days
To Be Continued...
A mix of strange, emotional, and funny times with the team. We're coming up to the Festival next, so, I hope you enjoyed, seeya in the next chapter Guardians!
Next Chapter: A Dark Presage
The week of the Festival has come, and the whole city is in high spirits, Ceres is given a 'Gift' by Zane, and an interesting request that takes them back to the mysterious surface of the Moon.
