Act V - The Dark Below

Chapter 13 - The Great Disaster

Six of us went down into the Pit... Only one crawled out...

I am Eris, the last. I have seen what the Hive call... a God.

Crota, Son of Oryx. He took everything from me. He will turn his eyes to Earth, and only a true weapon of the Light can stop his wrath.

Now you must face what lurks... in the dark below...


[Moon, Ocean of Storms, Summoning Pits]

Among the cracks and crevasses of the Hellmouth, the Hive amassed within their citadel of iron and bone, Thrall fed on piles of bone, while Knights guarded gates or patrolled the area. Wizards conjured rifts for the Acolytes to gather within the Summoning Pits themselves. They were gathering in large numbers, something that made a figure in the dark caress his chin in thought.

"Hmm, no-no-no why now do they squabble? ...Not likely, why would - No, that makes sense..." His mutterings were left on hold, as something new flew into the Pit, a Wizard that made his skin crawl with excitement and anticipation. He could not believe it, of all the times this was now! He had almost given his hiding spot away but remained undetected

This Wizard was larger than the rest, eyes big and bright blue with jagged shoulders and thin arms with shackles on its wrists. Its chitin was a dirty beige with dark robes stained with blood and decorated with bones around the waist. Spikes protruded from its back and head, all while a feminine cackling laugh left its mandibles.

"Omnigul, Will of Crota... this is bad... but very good too, but definitely bad," The man spoke, tapping his fingers to the walls around him, contemplating with someone. "Yes, that's true but this is still very bad - Too bad, I wanted to study her myself, guess a deal's a deal."

Without a word he slipped back into the darkness, happily skipping along in the darkness of the Hellmouth. Something big was coming and he had to act swiftly otherwise it would be a disaster all over again.


[Last City, Tower, Courtyard]

"An enemy without cover is without victory, brothers!" Zane all but bellowed from behind a wall of snow, his helmet encased in a snowglobe engram, while a Titan slammed one of the Crucible banners into the ground, looking like a light-blue and silver armored reindeer from a crusade with those antlers

Standing proud with him was the traditor herself, Taka, reading a number of snowballs while Sparrow worked with two other Guardians to man small mounds of snow on the east side of the Tower. To the west was my team, consisting of the eager Dimitri using rubber arrows tipped with snowballs, Jay was mending the broken walls and Morbin was... simply watching from afar, although we did have others backing us up in this climactic showdown that had a number of Guardians watching from the sidelines.

"We won't back down so easily!" I waved my hand toward my right. "You lot mend the walls! As for the rest, half at the back and a half at the vanguard! Overcome their blizzard!"

All hell broke loose, snowballs flying through the air, slowing Guardians down to a crawl, while I tried to take the lead, protecting my allies who were shot in their blindspots, moving up was a hard-fought battle, and neither side really held the advantage until walls were broken, spirits were shattered, and snow stained armor.

It was the Season of Dawning, much like the Festival of the Lost, it was only ever celebrated at a certain time of year, so December, and it was just as beautiful. Snow-covered the grounds of the Tower and beyond, unlike the Cosmodrome I could enjoy it without being shot. The banners were replaced with light blue ones decorated with a white symbol of the Dawning. Lanterns decorated the Eververse and railings along the Tower, while some rose into the air like stars.

Above the staircase leading to the Hall of Guardians and the Quarters was a gargantuan, glowing Dawning logo, radiating with color depending on the time of day. Blue lights decorated the pillars stretching from the walls of the wings to the stairs themselves, it was almost magical how the Tower glowed.

Of course, there were gifts placed around the Tower for Guardians to pick from, containing resources and cosmetics, one of which Zane wore, even Snow-Dregs, which admittedly were kind-of unnerving. It was amazing the work Guardians put into these events, makes me excited for what else was in store for the holidays I missed.

"There's alot, but I think I'll let you experience them for yourself," Bah, no fun, Ghost!

Just then, the tranquil battle of ours came to a close.

~WOULD FIRETEAM HORIZON PLEASE REPORT TO THE HALL OF GUARDIANS~

*Bam*

I got distracted and was pelted with a snowball, knocking me on my back in surprise. A boisterous laugh came from the attacker. My eyes locked with a Warlock, his helmet off he had spiked, red hair with matching eyes, a toothy grin stuck to his face too. His equipment was dark red with black, similar to my style, I like it.

"Haha, sorry 'bout that! You good, Titan?" He lowered a hand to me, and I accepted it, pulled back up in an instant, for a Warlock he had the strength of a Titan himself. Keeping with the grin he put a thumb to his chest. "Name's Sero, heard alot about you, I did want to talk... but who would pass up a snowball fight, right?"

Wait, Sero... "I know you, you're Reiner's friend!" He nodded, and I put a hand to my chest too. "Sorry, I'm Ceres, but you probably already know that, huh?"

"Who doesn't? You're pretty cool, even us Hidden know about you - Ah crap, sorry," He put his hands together in apology. "I was told you don't like it when you're praised alot, my bad."

I quickly shook my hands. "No-No, it's fine, I just don't like it when I'm put above everyone else is all - Still, I should probably get going, sorry to cut this short." I quickly replied, Sero merely patting my back

"Don't sweat it! Turns out Ikora needed me as well since I'm only ever needed for Hidden work when it's dire, can't be good whatever it is." Sero pointed out, then waved ahead of me. "Hey! Long time no see, Morbin!"

"Oh great, it's you, as if the Worst One's optimistic personality wasn't enough for one day..." Morbin just up and turned away, even while Sero ran up to talk to him

"Ah come on, it's been too long buddy, how's your fireteam been?"

"Good."

"What about Deus, he still-" The were out of earshot, but I saw Morbin point to fingers to his head, pulling back the trigger on an invisible gun as I giggled, unfortunate, he's like the Warlock version of Zane

"Who's the Warlock version of me?" Gah, I said that out loud! Blushing I turned to Zane, thankful my helmet was on. "Ready to go, leader?"

"O-Of course, and for the record, I was referring to Sero who just roped Morbin into a conversation," I said that last part sarcastically with Zane doing crying expressions with his hands

"Oh no, not a conversation! The humanity!" That had us laugh while leaving the others to continue the war without us, though Zane did turn back to his team. "Go forth, my brothers! For even in my defeat, let my sacrifice bring not sorrow but triumph over our enemy!"

He got quite alot rallied up by that.


[Tower, Hall of Guardians]

"Thank you for coming, Guardians," Zavala greeted us sternly, the lights dim while Eris stood near Cayde, which was quite the change of pace given she's usually never away from her stand. What was going on? "I'll cut to the chase, an informant on the Moon, directly under Eris, has reported an unusual amount of Hive activity, and after reports from the Cosmodrome it is clear to the Vanguard that the Hive are mobilizing."

"They are not just 'mobilizing', they are preparing for their Master's return... the signs were there, and this only proves that our time is limited," Eris spoke grimly, clearly irritated by this news. And yet, someone had to ask, and I had a feeling I knew who she referred to

"It's Him... Crota." My whisper brought unease to the meeting entirely, with Zane chuckling anxiously

"Heh, that's, um..." He held onto the Book of Sorrows tightly. "Yeah, he's... very powerful."

"Not many Guardians who survived the Moon have ever seen him up close, those that have never lived to say a word." Ikora grimaced, making my skin crawl. All these titles for the Hive, they were his acolytes, but I don't think I've ever seen an image of him

"If that's the case where do we start? I doubt they could bring him back just like that." Cayde clicked his fingers, and Eris frowned

"If given time he will, it may not be like... 'that', but if the Hive succeed Earth will fall." Eris berated Cayde, then turned to her glowing rock. "It will be the Great Disaster on a worldwide scale."

Again with that name. I never had the chance to read about it, and most I came across randomly were scarce rumors and Eris' ghost's recording. "Excuse me, but... what exactly was the 'Great Disaster'?"

My question came with an answer from Morbin. "Death. Pure and simple."

"Summer told me about it, she said it was the biggest failure of the Vanguard, and I've gone back to collect a few more ghost shells and let me say... they were right." Zane shivered, but now my curiosity peeked, I know little to nothing about this event, but I still wanted to know more

"Well then, Guardian, you're in luck," Cayde tapped the table, nudging Artemis. "Bring it up."

"Got it," Her eye soon displayed a battlefield on the Moon, frozen in time with Hive and Guardian alike

"I was there and the stories I got made a story even I wouldn't like to revisit." Cayde began, looking to Zavala and Ikora, then he cleared his throat...


"We called it the Great Disaster, nothing much more to be said but here goes, ahem..."

"Shortly after we encountered the Hive during the Battle of Burning Lake, one of our closer victories, the Vanguard ordered a full-scale assault on the Moon to establish a beachhead. Of course, not everyone was so keen on that idea, Shaxx warned us to delay the attack as so we could learn more about their weapons, especially the Ascendant Swords, like the one you three destroyed way back when. If the name didn't tip you off, it didn't happen."

"I vividly remember the stories from that night. The sky burning green, the roar of thunder ripping through the darkness, and the Eater of Hope tearing through our ranks. Crota, the merciless Hive prince whose dark campaign to pursue the Traveler led to the slaughter of countless worlds—all in the name of his father." Eris interjected

"Dark and moody is right too, moving on." Cayde continued

"Mare Imbrium was one of the first fronts we fought on and was the clear message that we were outclassed by thousands. Guardians who arrived fell by the hundreds, leading the army was none other than that Hive-Prince, Crota, any that crossed him had their Light devoured. Even the Titan Wei Ning was personally killed by Crota."

"After the fight, the Vanguard considered the Moon restricted, that is, until we finally got a hold on the place thanks to Guardians, yourselves, and those Fallen. And the rest is history."


Cayde closed the projection, the lights coming back on while the room remained in solemn silence. I lifted my head, looking to Eris. "The sky turned green? How is that possible?"

"Something his sisters cooked up in a place called the 'Ascendant Realm', it was his Oversoul," Zane replied, head buried in the Book of Sorrows. But wait, an... Oversoul? Seeing my confusion he tapped Rika, making her project an image of a green sphere with a Hive under it. "From what I managed to translate... - Think of it as a back-up drive of your soul, if Crota's physical form is killed he returns there, escaping death."

"Then how do you kill something that can keep coming back?" Sloane inquired, but Eris spoke first

"Now is not the time to worry about this issue, so long as Crota's disciples are alive and his Soul anchored to our world he will return." Eris pressed the issue at hand, while this whole 'Ascendant Realm' and 'Oversoul' was baffling, right now, stopping Crota from being awakened again was our top priority. "If your Vanguard is ready to listen I will tell you how to banish his soul back to that accursed realm."

Zavala was silent through it all but nodded once. "While an unkillable foe is troubling, you and Zane are the two that know more about the Hive than anyone here, whatever it is, we'll agree to support this campaign against Crota and his spawn."

Zane gave Eris a thumbs up, making me smile at his humor, then Eris motioned to us all. "We must slay his generals, lay his plans to waste. First, we must take care of his first general, Sardon, Fist of Crota. He is largely responsible for leading Crota's army of Blades in conquering the Moon shortly after the Collapse, he will not be pleased to see the ones that slaughtered his Sword Prince generals, good, add him to their rotten graves."

That was dark, but Eris continued. "In this time we must search for Omnigul, she is the consort of Crota and the architect of his rebirth, we cannot allow her to live either, but she is clever, she will not be so reckless as to give away her nest."

"Allow our Hidden to see to that, if she hides somewhere on Earth we will track her down." Ikora proclaimed, turning to one such Hidden. "See to it that this general is tracked down, leave no stone unturned."

"Of course, I'll get my team together," Sero raised a fist, then marched away, giving me a wave. "Nice meetin' you guys! Good luck out there!"

"And to you too." I offered back, turning my attention back to the meeting. "So, I guess we'll start by tracking down Sardon?"

"Agreed," Zavala concurred, turning to Eris. "Eris, guide them to this general, in the meantime myself and Ikora must prepare another fireteam for an equally dangerous matter."

"Very well," Eris agreed, turning to look at me directly. "When you are ready, proceed to the Cosmodrome, I shall inform you along your path to defeating Crota's generals one-by-one."

And just like that, our newest venture against the acolytes of the Darkness had arrived. Now, all the whispers and history I've witnessed and experienced has come to light, the names and other lands beyond our reach were finally coming undone. This battle won't be easy, it never is, but I'm not one to back down either, be it this feeling I always have in times of crisis or my Titan stubbornness.

"Okay then, Fireteam Horizon, let's get this done!"

"You bet!"

"I'll follow your lead ~CRUSH THEM ALL!~." Couldn't have said it better myself; Literally

To Be Continued...


The short campaign has begun, but there's alot more in-store this time! Lore, Two Strikes (One I [BEEP]ing despite, and one I love), characters and fights abound! I hope you enjoyed, seeya in the next chapter, Guardians!

Next Chapter: Impending Threat

The Fist of Crota awaits in the cracks of the Cosmodrome, an easy enough mission, but the threats that loom over Horizon won't be so cut-clean.