Hello you wonderful people. I return in a semi-reasonable time frame for the final chapter of Witches and Warlocks. It's been a lovely time and I would like to thank every individual person who took the time to stop and review, favorite, follow, or read my little story. We cap off season three of Witches and Warlocks with 270 reviews, 117 followers, 102 favorites, 391 thousand words, and I don't know how many views. The site has been broken for a few months and hasn't been tracking them which kinda sucks. Regardless, I'll see you all at the end of the chapter. Hope you all have a nice Thanksgiving. Unless you don't celebrate that, then have a good week.

Chapter 45: How We Remember

"Devotion inspires bravery. Bravery inspires sacrifice. Sacrifice leads to death." -Creed of the Guardians

Royal leaned back in his seat, swirling his glass around as he looked at the miniature whirlpool he was forming. He stopped, let it settle, then tipped it back and downed the glass in a single motion. He felt it slide down his throat, heard his artificial taste buds bubble in response, and a small part of his brain was at work picking apart its exact chemical composition. With a frown, he turned all of those functions off. He didn't want any distractions right now. It had been a few years since the defeat of Belos, the Collector, and the Vex. A fanatic, a pawn, and a monster, all felled within such a short span of time. It was the highlight of his career as a Guardian

Eda was right beside him, loosely holding her own drink. The viscous crimson of Apple Blood hugged the sides of her glass as she swished a mouthful around. Her eyes periodically darted between Royal, her drink, and the ground. Eventually, she reached a consensus within her mind and swallowed. She had grown noticeably older over the last few years, a painful reminder of Royal's own longevity. Her right arm had been replaced by a specialized hook prosthetic drafted and designed by Alador and Royal. And should she require an appendage more suited towards delicate tasks, the hook could fold inward and deploy a few mechanical fingers. It was a marvel of engineering made possible only by the collaboration of Witch knowledge and Human experience.

"So," Eda began, not quite certain of her words, "you're sure about this?" Royal hung his head, partly in shame and partly in thought. He offered a so-so gesture with his free hand before securing another glass of water for himself. Eda gave a huff at his response.

"Don't tell me you're scared." She said. "You, of all people."

"I'm not scared," he replied, "just…" His voice trailed off as he searched for the right word before giving up and making a series of vague gestures with his hands. Eda fixed him with an unimpressed look and Royal hastily continued. "I just don't know how the others will take it."

Eda sighed and peered into her glass, frowning when she saw that it was getting low. "Look, at the end of the day, it's your choice. If you think that it's right, everyone will understand."

"I don't want to leave everyone thinking I'm abandoning them," Royal said. "But… I can't stay."

"Why not?" Eda asked. Royal turned to her quizzically and she held up a hand to placate him. "I'm not accusing you; I just want to know what brought this about." Royal grimaced and looked down at his hand as he clenched and unclenched it.

"What purpose do I even serve here?" He asked. "Every threat has been thoroughly smashed aside and beaten down. The Isles are in a time of peace. Guardians… we don't even know what that word means!"

Eda nodded as he spoke. He had been rather restless the last few years, flying all over the Isles and dealing with whatever issues cropped up. One day it was dealing with raiders who had been harassing merchant vessels, the next it was putting out fires, and the next it was settling disputes between neighbors. He took time to himself of course, but he seemed agitated.

"What's your verdict, Lightbulb?" She asked. Lancer's eye flitted over as the Ghost looked at his Guardian.

"The Traveler chose you for a specific reason," he answered hesitantly. "I don't know exactly why, but I know that they made the right choice. You will too." There was a brief pause as he collected his words. "Guardians are meant to protect Humanity against the Darkness. You found something equally worthy of protecting. But now, your original design is creeping back in."

Royal slumped back in his seat as he tossed Lancer's words around. Guardians were unique creatures and had certain tendencies. One of which was an almost single-minded drive to uproot and destroy the Darkness wherever it may lay. He had purged the Isles of its influence – at least, as much as he could – but there was more out there waiting for him. A duty he could not shirk from any longer.

"I have to go home," he said. "To my time. Those people- my people need me. I can feel it in my soul, a fire that I cannot quench."

"But what about your siblings?" Eda asked. "They seem to have adjusted just fine." There was truth to her words. Paladin and Venator had both integrated into the Isles, growing accustomed to their new lives there. Venator was often out leading exploration expeditions. It seemed like her teams would uncover a new continent with a new culture every other month. Negotiations didn't always go smoothly at first, but Venator was proving quite capable as a diplomat to her Brother's surprise. And then there were her excursions to the Human realm. He had inquired as to their nature before, only to receive some platitudes from his Sister. Camila hadn't been of much help either, devolving into a flustered, stuttering mess whenever he asked. Despite his curiosity, he decided to drop it after that.

Paladin, on the other hand, had turned himself toward politics. After the defeat of Synegorus, many had wanted to institute him as the Isles new emperor. He was quick to shoot these ideas down, citing himself as being ill-equipped for governance. It was his push that led to a democratic reform of the Isles and his endorsement that had won Darius the first election. Instead, he acted as a neutral advisor and as the head of the Isles new military. They were largely ceremonial but did keep an eye on the Vex's constructs should the machine spawn reemerge. Despite the Guardian's best efforts, nothing could remove their touch and the Isles would be forever scarred by their presence. A few scattered Vex patrols had broken through only to be swiftly dealt with. They had no guiding intelligence behind their actions, little more than probes that ultimately meant nothing.

"That's different," Royal said. "They've found a way to continue their purposes. A Hunter stalking the frontiers and a Titan being the insurmountable bastion. What place is there for a Warlock?"

Eda shrugged, "I know Lily enjoys having your company on her excursions." There was a sly grin on her lips as she said that, prompting Royal to roll his optics. He and Lilith had thoroughly started their relationship over after everything that went down and quickly became friends, bonding over their shared love of history and learning. She would regale him with tales of the Savage Ages, now known as the pre-Coven era. In turn, he would excite her with stories of Ancient Rome, feudal Japan, and other historical Human civilizations. She had developed a particular interest in Native American folklore, a topic Royal was admittedly lacking. Not by choice but more because remarkably few of those tales had survived the Collapse. Luz had been of great help in that regard, gifting the two with numerous collections of short stories she had purchased. The two were also banned from partnering up during trivia games. Their unbroken win streak had gotten on everyone's nerves.

"I wouldn't exactly call being a historian a life-defining purpose," Royal remarked. "Doesn't quite get me going like explorer or general does."

"Don't let Lily hear you say that," Eda quipped. Royal blanched and hastily agreed, ignoring Lancer's snickering.

"It also doesn't address the real meat of it," he continued. "Paladin. Venator. Neither of them has a home besides here anymore. Their timelines are lost. Go ask Paladin if he wants to return to that doomed reality and he'll probably look at you like you'd just cloned yourself."

"Is that a challenge, Tincan?" Royal waved her off as she smirked, the shadow of a smile on his lips.

"Please, I can barely stand one of you." The three shared a good laugh at that, setting a vice upon Royal's heart. All that bluster and he hadn't told her the real reason. Simply put, he was scared. Every time he looked at Eda, he struggled to reconcile her with the woman he had first met all those years ago. She was getting older, and the implication terrified him. And he knew that, the longer he stayed, the longer he would want to stay. He was a Guardian, so he was more than used to living with the dead. Hell, he was living dead. But the idea of watching everyone he'd come to love die. The thought of having to bury any of them.

It scared him beyond belief.

"When do you plan to go through with it?" Eda asked. A steady tapping could be heard as Royal's fingers danced across the countertop.

"To be honest, I was planning on doing it after Luz's Kingceanera." Eda raised her eyebrows at that but didn't comment further, electing instead to top off her glass. "I know, I know. Pretty shitty birthday gift. But I wanted to spend that special day with her before leaving… is that selfish?" Eda made a so-so gesture of her own as she downed her drink. "You're so helpful, you know that?"

"I try."

Royal buried his face in his hands. "How am I gonna tell her?" He felt Eda's hand clap him on the shoulder, her drink now set on the counter.

"I'm sure you'll think of something," she said reassuringly. "And, if you don't, you'll just have to live with that for the rest of your immortal life." He set his hand atop her own, grateful for her confidence.

"I'm not ready to say goodbye." She gave a warm smile.

"No one ever is."

Luz reached over to her desk, grabbed a few items, and carefully set them in a box. Her room was barren, caught in the middle of her packing. Her hand drifted to her collector's edition Azura figurine. She held it up and smiled slightly before gently setting it at the top of the box. Behind the figurine was a college acceptance letter pinned to the wall. A small heart with L plus A was carved into the table beside it. A few other photos could be seen; one with all her friends and family, herself and Vee graduating high school, and a few others.

It had been four years since the Vex were destroyed. The Isles had recovered, but it had been a slow process. The Guardians had proven instrumental in leading the rebuilding efforts. Luz had been very proactive in the process despite the insistence from all three of her parental figures that she had done more than enough.

"¡Ahí estás tu! ¿Puedes ayudarme a envolver a estos maduros?" Camila called from downstairs. Luz quickly shouted back, letting her mother know she would be there soon. She finished packing her box and patched it up tight. Holding it before her, she moved downstairs where the box joined her ever-growing pile.

"I can't believe you're already moving off to college," Camila said wistfully, standing in the kitchen doorway. "Remind me, which major did you choose again?"

Luz laughed, "Oh you know me, mamá. I picked 'em all." She held up her schedule, proudly displaying a dozen different classes in all fields of magic.

"And how do you plan to do that without your glyphs?" Camila asked playfully. Luz reached up to her shoulder where Stringbean was coiled around her neck. She stroked her Palisman's chin, listening to the snakeshifter purr.

"It's been tough, but we manage in our own way." She looked back down at her schedule and smiled. "It'll be nice to see everyone again, after all this time."

"Mija, you just saw them last week."

Luz waved her mother off. "Yeah, but that was studying for finals. It doesn't count." Off to the side, Vee was listening in on the conversation. She turned to Owlbert who was perched on her hand and whispered into his ear. The owl flapped his wings and flew off. He left the Noceda household and flew to the shack in the woods. There, standing in the doorframe, was a reconstructed portal frame. It had been a difficult process to rebuild it, but with Royal's technical expertise, a small blood donation from King, and more than a little luck, they had gotten it done. Owlbert flew out of the portal and took up his perch on Eda's shoulder. She welcomed him with a wink and a nod before turning back to Raine as they checked over their list.

"Alright, places everyone!"

The crowd began to move, quickly spreading out and getting into position. It was a special day after all and nobody wanted to be found lacking. Each of Luz's friends took their place right outside the portal. Each of them had found their own way forward; Willow was the captain of the Flyer Derby team at the University of Wild Magic, Hunter had taken up Palisman carving under Del Clawthorne's tutelage, Gus led the Human-Witch exchange program, and Amity worked with her father to help produce a variety of helpful Abomination-based products. Paladin had been meeting with Alador privately, discussing the potential of sharing his own guns for replication.

Eda and Raine waited hand-in-hand. After the defeat of the Vex, the first thing they did was get married. Paladin had officiated, as per his insistence. No one was brave enough to object. Lilith stood beside the two, shrinking down from her Harpy form. Eda wore her new uniform, the one belonging to the Headmaster of the University of Wild Magic. No one had believed her when she applied for the position. But she had been the most infamous Wild Witch for decades, who better to impart that predilection for chaos to the next generation than her? Raine, for their part, worked alongside Darius in the new government. Lilith was pursuing her career as a historian, uncovering lost secrets from the pre-Coven era. King bounced on his paws, having grown noticeably taller. He had something he was eager to share with Luz and couldn't wait for her to arrive.

The three Royals were off to the side, chatting amongst themselves while they waited. Each of them had adopted an illusion similar to Royal's old Human disguise. Paladin's features were strong and well-defined, looking like he had been sculpted from a chunk of marble. He had blonde hair that matched his Brothers in color, though he kept his in a military-style buzzcut. Venator had elected for a more pronounced appearance. Her hair bounced in curls that rolled all the way down to her shoulders and she had specifically requested her appearance be designed to highlight certain assets. Both shared their Brother's burning orange eyes. All three wore military dress uniforms, each in their own primary color with golden trim.

"You're really going through with this?" Venator prodded, speaking in a hushed tone. Royal nodded.

"Everyone besides Luz already knows," he said. "I'm going to tell her tomorrow. I just want this day to be normal."

"Normal?" Paladin asked with no small amount of amusement. "On the Boiling Isles?"

"As normal as things can be," Royal corrected. He stuffed his hands in his pockets as he looked down. "I wonder what's changed in my absence." Venator and Paladin shared a look, both wearing rather grim expressions. It appears the festivities weren't just for Luz's sake. There was a click as the knob on the portal door began to turn, instantly silencing the chatter. The door opened, allowing Vee to slip through and change back into her Basilisk form. She turned back, calling for Luz to hurry up. The girl was led through through the portal by Camila with a grin on her face and a hand over her eyes.

"What's the rush, Vee? No one's gonna mind if we're a little late."

"Yes, but today is special," Camila said. Luz shrugged and removed the hand from her eyes. She gasped at the sight of everyone before her as they welcomed her with a deafening cry. There were streamers suspended in the air, hanging lazily over tables stocked with food. A large cake dominated the center, decorated lovingly with a statue of the Good Witch Azura. She gaped as Amity ran up beside her, planting a kiss on her cheek.

"What is this?" She asked. Eda smiled and rolled her eyes.

"Well, since you spent your fifteenth birthday helping to rebuild the Isles-"

"And sixteenth," King interjected. "And seventeenth."

"We all wanted to make it up to you," Amity continued.

"Camila told us about your quinceañeras," Willow added as Gus stepped in.

"And they sound a lot less haunted than our birthdays." Lilith unfurled a scroll and quickly looked through it. The bottom of the paper bounced off the ground as she inspected her list.

"I made sure to follow Camila's instructions to the letter," she said proudly. Camila cast a side-eye at the banquet, noting that the display had been done with the typical trappings of the Demon Realm. She blanched as spiders crawled out of the cake. Despite how long she had to adjust to the Witches eccentricities, she never quite got used to everything. She offered as encouraging a smile as she could muster.

"And there's more!" King cheered, rushing forward. He stuck a claw in the ground and began to trace a large circle. He wove an intricate pattern until the glyph was complete. He pressed his paw against the symbol. There were a few sparks as the magic took hold. The symbol melted into light, transforming into a tiny ball of light. The luminous sphere drifted lazily into the sky as Luz watched. Eda knelt beside her son, patting him on the back.

"Someone's getting his powers," she said, holding up a replication of the new glyph, "and they're different from his dad's too." Luz smiled, her mind already whirling with possibilities for new patterns and combinations.

"As wonderful as this all is," Lancer began coyly, "I think the studying can wait until after the festivities." Royal waltzed over and looked around, noting the setting sun and encroaching darkness.

"Those glyphs don't seem strong enough to light this venue. Allow me." He set his hands ablaze and thrust them out. Solar flames danced from his fingertips, bouncing from torch to torch until the entire area was cast in the warm embers of the Light. Sparks of deep purple and electric blue could be seen weaving around the fires, providing a beautiful display of flashing colors. Grinning, Luz reached out and wrapped an arm around Ead and Royal. She pulled them in while King took up a perch on her shoulder.

"Thanks, guys. For everything."

Royal paced through the streets of Bonesborough, lost in thought. Around him, the town had been rebuilt and all signs of the Collector's influence had been wiped away. People walked freely, no longer in fear of the Emperor's Coven or the Vex. Some waved to him as he passed, a gesture he absently returned. It felt nice to not be feared.

He arrived at the center of the market square, where the hustle and bustle of the midday rush swirled around him. He laced his way through the crowds until he arrived at the center of the square. Where a statue of Belos once stood, now there was a new monument. Replicas of each of the Guardians stood proudly, carefully carved from immovable stone. A mirror of Paladin stood proudly, fists balled at his sides while he kept his chin up and his chest out. Venator stalked to the side, crouched low with two knives drawn. Lastly, Royal aimed a sword at the sky. Light coursed through each statue, supplied by the Guardians themselves. A small plaque sat at Royal's feet, simply reading: 'Our Guardians'.

He frowned a little at the monument. He had initially been against its construction, only to be convinced by his siblings. Paladin had argued in favor of pragmatism, citing that the people of the Isles needed a morale booster after the hardships of the last few years. Venator had mostly been interested in appeasing her own vanity.

"Still not a fan?" Royal turned his head to the side. Luz was next to him, looking up with curiosity. It was the day after her Kingceanera and Royal had asked to meet for a private talk. He felt his heart tear as he watched her. Despite all the extra time he had to prepare, he still didn't know what to say. A ping from Lancer sounded in his ear, his Ghost instructing him to stop thinking and just do it. He took a deep breath - a motion that calmed him despite not needing to breathe - and tore the bandage off.

"I'm leaving."

Luz blinked, a little caught off guard by the statement. "Oh, you're going on another expedition? Where to?" Royal grimaced and looked away.

"No, it's not a history thing," he said. "I'm… going home."

"What do you mean?" Traveler damn it, he couldn't even look her in the eye. He stepped forward, holding his hands limply in front of him.

"I love being able to help in the Demon Realm, I really do," he said weakly. "But I can't stay here. I'm needed back in my time. I can feel it in my servos. And here I just feel so aimless. Like I'm drifting without purpose." The crowd continued to bustle around the two, though they may as well have been alone. Luz's face was at war with herself, a dozen emotions fighting for dominance.

"Please," Royal pleaded, slowly turning to face her again, "I need you to understand that I have-" He was cut off when Luz wrapped her arms around his chest and squeezed. He fell silent, hesitating before eventually returning the embrace.

"I'll miss you." Her voice was quiet and laden with sorrow. Royal didn't reply, knowing that there was nothing to say. She looked back up at him, her eyes a little misty. "What do you say we have one last day of fun?" Royal smiled and accepted the proposal.

Blip wove around the Vex structure, occasionally shooting a beam of Light into the metal as he tried to force it to work. Thatch and Lancer weren't far off, each prying away at the Vex's coding. They were on the Vex's artificial island, the same place Synegorus had used to enter the Vex Domain. Eventually, the Ghosts managed to persuade it to activate. A small portal appeared, swirling with bright blue data.

"Our ways open," Lancer said to his Guardian. "No clue how long though. Something's trying to close it again. We should make it quick." Royal nodded, turning to his friends. Slowly he walked over, his hands clasped before him. His siblings were first and the three saluted each other.

"Take care of this place for me, will you?" They both swore to protect it to the fullest extent of their ability. He knew that the Demon Realm would be left in capable hands. He turned to Lilith and clasped her forearm.

"It's been good to get to know you," he said. Lilith smiled and pulled him into a hug.

"The feeling is mutual." She released him and he turned to King. True to his word, the young Titan had not used his Dark powers since the defeat of the Vex.

"See you in a couple centuries I guess," the Warlock joked. King laughed, though it was largely devoid of joy. Eda was next, Raine standing right beside her.

"It's been one hell of a ride, Tincan," she said.

"Wouldn't have had anyone else besides me, Birdbrain," he replied. The two shared a laugh before he turned to Raine. "Keep her out of trouble, alright?" They grinned slightly, holding their wife's hand.

"Have you met Eda?"

And last was Luz. Royal knelt until they were face to face. The girl sniffed, clearly fighting off tears.

"Don't forget about me, alright?" She asked.

"Who could ever forget you?" Royal countered. The two embraced once more. "I'm proud of you, more than you could know." They broke apart and Luz reached over to Lancer, stroking the top of his shell. The Ghost rolled into her hand, sighing as he did.

"I'm gonna miss your pats."

"I won't miss your jumpscares," she replied. Thatch called out, letting them know that the portal was starting to close. Royal nodded and reluctantly began to walk over to it.

"You sure you two can find your way?" Thatch asked. Royal assured her they would be fine. He started to step through before hesitating and turning back. He offered one last wave.

"Bye."

He walked through the portal as it closed behind him, leaving him and his Ghost alone in the Vex Domain once more. He stretched, the familiar feeling of oppressing simulated power washing over him. He had almost missed it. Summoning his hand cannon, the two partners set off. It was time to go home.

Running the Tower was a complicated business. There was always another report that needed to be filed, another mission that needed to be planned, another request that needed to be weighed. The responsibility weighed on Ikora. As the Vanguard of the Warlocks, it was her responsibility to coordinate the Hidden, guide their New Lights, and provide an example for everyone to live up to. It was draining and even she needed to take a break. Currently, she was strolling through the Bazaar, listening to people chatter. Large Taken Blights hung in the air, the effects of the Darkness's most recent attack on the Last City; the Endless Night. Even when she was relaxing, her responsibilities weighed on her.

As she lounged on a bench, there was a tinge of static in the air. People gasped and cried out in panic as reality began to warp and twist. Ikora narrowed ehr eyes, recognizing the signs of Vex teleportation. In an instant, she was on her feet. Void Light flowed through her arms and pooled in her hands as she prepared to atomize them. A portal opened in the air and a single purple-clad figure fell through. The ground cracked under them as they landed and fell to one knee. Slowly, they pushed themself up, exhaustion seeping into their skin-steel. Their eyes darted wildly, a frantic look in them. Ikora could feel the Light tightly curled up in them like a knot, threatening to snap at the first threat to present itself. She reached out and set a hand on his shoulder. He whipped around and Ikora studied his face. He seemed familiar, but she couldn't quite place it.

"Did I make it?" He questioned. "Or is this another Vex trick?" Ikora felt the gears in her mind snap into place. An Exo Warlock was lost to the Vex years ago. There had been a request to pursue him, one she had personally denied, not wanting to risk losing more Guardians. A pang of guilt struck her as she held out her hands to placate him.

"It's alright, Guardian. You're safe now." She tried to match his face to a name as he looked around, his mind no doubt swirling with questions. "Royal, wasn't it?" He nodded, the tension leaving his limbs as he finally realized that he was home. Ikora gestured for him to take a seat. "It's been years since you disappeared. Where have you been?"

Royal let out a bark of laughter as he lowered himself onto the bench. "It's… it's a long story." Ikora gestured for him to explain and he complied. To say the story was fantastical was an understatement. Truth be told, she wasn't sure if she believed most of it. Rest assured, Royal will be receiving a full psychiatric evaluation. But there was something in his voice that made her at least consider it.

"Here, how about I give you some time to gather yourself," she said, holding out a hand to stop his tirade. "You can present a proper report to the Vanguard after you've gotten settled back in." Royal nodded, accepting her terms. She rose to return to her office and contact Zavala, only for Royal to grab her wrist.

"Is there a jumpship I could borrow?" He asked. "I… I need to check something." Ikora instructed him to head to the hangar where he would receive a temporary transport. He thanked her and set off, pushing through the civilians and other Guardians. Few of them who had not seen his entrance paid him any mind. After a brief conversation with the Towers Chief Shipwright, he had secured a jumpship and set off.

He flew across the ruins of Old Earth. Desolate cities and empty vistas rolled beneath him, dotted by the occasional Fallen encampment or Red Legion outpost. Eventually, Lancer informed him that he had reached his destination. His ship set down in the ruin of an old town. He disembarked and set off, marching through the ruined streets. He arrived at a familiar house and moved past it, pressing on into the woods. He reached a building that had been utterly torn apart, with little but the foundation remaining. He traced the empty doorframe before kneeling and scooping up a small piece of wood. He held it to the light of the setting sun and turned it over in his hand. It was possible that he held the last piece of the portal to the Demon Realm in his hand. He clutched it to his chest and sent a prayer to the Traveler before sending it to transmat.

His work incomplete, he continued onward. He marched through the ruins, occasionally stopping to quickly dispatch a Fallen scavenger as he went. The six-limbed aliens quickly learned to give him a wide berth, sticking to the shadows in the hopes that he wouldn't notice them. Eventually, he reached a large gateway marking the entrance to a graveyard. He and Lancer split up and dispersed, searching the graves.

Royal passed dozens of tombstones without so much as a second glance. Most of them had been defiled, little more than piles of rocks. The ones that still stood were largely overgrown and their inscriptions were only barely legible. He passed another only to feel an inexplicable tug. Doubling back, he crouched beside it and wiped the moss away. His optics picked apart the inscription, fighting against the centuries of entropy and erosion.

Luz Noceda

Beloved Daughter, Wife, Mother

A Good Witch

Royal placed his hand against the gravestone and simply sat in silence. Lancer joined him, the two listening to the wind blowing through the stones. Royal removed a small brazier from transmat and set it down. He willed sparks to his hands and lit a flame that flickered in the wind.

"Hey, kid." He finally broke the silence, his voice wavering. "I made it home."

So yeah, might not have been the ending y'all expected. This was more of an epilogue, capping off everything that came before and setting up what's to come next.

For the uniforms the three Royals were wearing during the Kingceanera, just take the most recent solstice sets with each of them in their respective colors.

Well, this is the end of the road. As I've mentioned, I've got a sequel in the works. That's what Savathûn and Outcast are there for. Gotta have some places to take things. During the process of writing Season 3, I didn't much care for what I was putting out. I thought it was up to par with my usual standard, but something felt off. Maybe it was just that it was mostly original work instead of being based on existing chapters. Now that I'm at the end, I actually like it quite a bit more. It's been real and it's been fun.

Once again, I would like to thank all of you for your support new and old. It means more than you could ever know. Here's to more stories in the future.

GodzillaMaster: The Witch Queen has some designs for the Isles. And Outcast was never dead. It's like his Nightmare said, he was banished. Due to how many Vex Minds he had absorbed, he achieved a form of pseudo-immortality. It's great that you like the Ignosi fight, I put a lot of care into it.

Elthreee: Thanks. More people should really check out your story, it's good stuff.

Frank180: I guess we could say that the Isles are in for a bad time.

OMAC001: Not quite the finale you expect, huh? It's true that Royal's arc isn't complete without confronting the Outcast. That's why he's being saved for later.

Jebest4781: Thanks chief.

"Alright," Royal said, rubbing his hands together, "what have we missed?" He had recently returned from his debriefing with the Vanguard. His nerves were frayed and his senses were shot, but he knew that he needed to get caught back up to speed. Lancer had been picking up whatever news he could, likely from browsing the Vanguard's files. The Ghost chirped as his shell spun.

"Well, after we went missing, Osiris popped up and Iris helped him destroy Panoptes, Infinite Mind."

"Good to know that the Young Wolf is still kicking," Royal said. Lancer beeped at him, mildly miffed at being interrupted. Royal apologized and gestured for him to continue.

"Then the Warmind Rasputin re-emerged on Mars and the Worm God Xol was slain." Royal stared at his Ghost, unsure if he was joking. Lancer continued unabated. "These new zombie Fallen called Scorn popped up and helped Uldren Sov kill Cayde."

"Wait, Uldren Sov?" Royal questioned. "As in: Prince of the Reef Uldren Sov?"

"That's the bastard," Lancer muttered, an edge of anger in his tone. "Fortunately, the rabid dog was put down. There was some nonsense with the Black Armory and Calus calling people back to his party ship a few more times. And it turns out that the Moon is haunted."

"Sorry, what?" Royal was in utter disbelief.

"Yeah, there's another Pyramid Ship up there and it taunted the Guardians with some more Nightmares. Then a shit ton of Vex showed up, Saint-14 was rescued from history, the Red Legion tried to wipe out the city by crashing the Almighty into it, and then the Black Fleet stole a bunch of planets."

"What?" Royal was getting frantic now, looking like he was about to panic.

"Then the Black Fleet called us to Europa where it started blessing Guardians with the power King was wielding. Apparently, it's called Stasis. Then Xivu Arath started trying to make her move and some guy called the Crow helped to shut that down. I don't know who he is but he seems cool. Now the Cabal under Empress Caital are trying to form an alliance with us and Eliksni from House Light are seeking refugee in the city while the Vex simulates an eternal twilight."

"I- I don't," Royal stuttered, "I can't… I don't…"

"So yeah, that's about everything we've missed," Lancer said. "Where do you want to start?" Royal mumbled incoherently for a few seconds, trying to gather his bearings as he processed everything he had just heard. Eventually, he got himself under control and took a deep breath.

"Throw me back into the Vex Domain please and thank you."

Witches and Warlocks shall return.