Redacted
Balanced
Sorry guys, this took a lot longer to put out than expected. I initially had the ending planned out, but when I was writing it, I realized just how much I 'hated' it. So, I had to delete at least a good a thousand words before finally setting up with the ending on this one. Makes more sense to me.
Anyways, thanks to Diamond002, Guest, The Great Wolf 117, and DisobeyedBowl6 for the reviews!
Guest - Let's just say that some characters in this story aren't the smartest lol.
Edited: 09/24/2023
Titled used to be 'Harmonization'. Didn't make much sense so changed it to 'Balanced'.
Also FF is now officially caught up with updates/edits on AO3 so now it will now follow the same update date: I update every Sunday except the first Sunday of each month. Thus, see you all next time! (10/08/2023)
Ace had found themself frozen when they witnessed Gemini stab Cole in the back, only to see her get stabbed in turn. After that, everything was a blur for them, the Ghost barely comprehending what had happened before the next thing they knew, both Nine and Akiva incapacitated, the twins surrounded and under the mercy of the Revenants.
That is, until the Preceptor stepped in.
In honesty, Ace had expected the head of the faction to be more intimidating, more dominant than what they had envisioned. But the Preceptor was not even close to their imagination; clad in black and red, his build was of moderate size; neither toned but neither lanky, giving his form an average appearance. The bond around his arm gave away his status as a Warlock – if of course, the Revenants follow the same class standards as the Tower – and his coat nearly drags along the floor. More likely an aesthetic choice.
Nonetheless, Ace holds no doubt that this is the Preceptor; the Ghost can sense the light. And the dark.
"Preceptor, we can explain."
Cole's voice seemed desperate, but not fearful, and Ace looked on as the Preceptor raised a hand, halting the Exo's words. The disappointment emanating from him was palpable.
"Do you understand what you have done?" The Preceptor asked.
Although his voice remained even, soft, Ace saw not only Cole, but the other Revenants step back, flinching as if visibly struck.
"But, Preceptor." Cole protested, "They are Tower Guardians."
"Who had disarmed themselves of their weapons and refused to utilize their light even when threatened." The Preceptor's words prompted Ace to glance over at the Revenants; when he said it like that, it sounds bad, "How many times do I have to tell you, Cole? Not all Guardians are hostile."
"Preceptor-"
"Cole." If the disappointment was not clear before, it was now, "our relationship with the Tower is already unstable. You know as well as I that although we have numbers, we still lack proper defenses. We cannot risk the safety of our family." Ace then watched as the Preceptor's attention turned towards them, prompting them to freeze and stare back; they cannot read the expression behind the Preceptor's helmet, "And you just have brought peril upon our family."
"Then we can just kill them!"
Ace sucked in a breath at Cole's words.
"Destroy their Ghosts! Dump their bodies! The Tower won't suspect a thing!" Cole took a step forward, gesturing towards the twins and the others, "Many of their number die out in the field anyway!"
There is a beat, a pause, and then, there is a deep sigh from the Preceptor.
"And that train of thought is the reason why I deem you not ready for the Harmonization." The Preceptor's eyes scanned the Revenants, "Ther reason why all of you are not ready for the Harmonization."
Harmonization?
Well, whatever it is, it seems to be important enough that again, Cole and the others reacted as if they were slapped, visibly flinching as the Preceptor's words.
Thanks to this, Ace decided to keep note of it.
"One must be balanced before one may take on the Darkness into their being." The Preceptor continued, "Such thoughts of vengeance and murder will allow the Darkness to corrupt and disrupt your light. And that is if your light does not decide to fight back." He then clasped his hands together, giving the Revenants a stern look, "And in the end, the very light that gave your life, will lead you to death." The Preceptor then shook his head, letting out another sigh of disappointment, "You need to rid your thoughts of such violence, otherwise, you will never be able to harmonize with the darkness."
If it wasn't for the dire situation that they and the others are in right now, Ace would have found the Revenants situation funny; they shrank away as if a child being scolded by a parent, posture small and eyes looking down towards the floor.
"Are you going to force us out then?"
The question must not be one that the Preceptor expected, for Ace then saw him reel, jerking back before another release of breath can be heard.
"No." He answered, this prompted the Revenants to look up at him, "As soon as you become part of the Revenants, you have become a part of our family." The Preceptor then approached Cole, placing a hand upon her shoulder, "Darkness or not, you are allowed to stay." Then, there was a pause, a gentle squeeze to Cole's shoulder, "Unless, you want to leave?"
Now it was Cole's turn to jerk back, the surprise obvious behind her helmet.
"No, of course not." She exclaimed, "You were the first to accept the others and I when we were casted out of the City, took us in when no one else would." Cole glanced at the others, receiving a nod from them, "I – We feel more at home here than anywhere else."
"Then please, control your anger, your hate." Ace can hear the sincerity, the worry in the Preceptor's voice, "I do not wish to see you fall because of it."
There is another beat of silence as Cole looked up at him, before she let out a sigh of her own, "I understand."
There is a nod from the Preceptor, obviously pleased. Then, when he lowered his hand, that is when Ace spotted it; a mix of copper and steal glinting around his gauntlets. They blinked; were they just seeing things?
"Preceptor!" Crystalline then glided forward, "I know it has been a while but…"
"We may speak later, Crystalline." The Preceptor's voice lacked surprise; in turn, Crystalline reeled, "But your friends, let us attend to them first."
That is when Cole snapped her head towards him, "But, Preceptor."
"Help me bring the injured to the Medical Ward." The Preceptor's words were enough to silence her, "and we shall help revive the dead."
"Preceptor…"
Judging from the way the Preceptor slowly turned to look at her, he must have heard the guilt, the shame in Cole's voice.
"Is there something you have forgotten to tell me, Cole?" He asked her.
There is a shift of feet, almost like a child caught in a lie before Cole answered, "One of their Ghosts, sir. We…I…"
That is when Ace's core went cold.
Lex.
They had seen it happen, watched as a single shot, a single bullet hit the yellow and white Ghost out of the air. It just hadn't set in until now.
Slowly turning their orange optic to where they had seen Lex fall, Ace's core twisted at the sight of broken shards, and the golden optic of Lex now blank.
Turning their attention back to the Revenants, Ace looked on as the Preceptor said nothing, doing nothing but stare down at Cole.
"Gather his Ghost, Cole." He finally said, "We are going to assess the damage that you have wrought upon the Tower Guardians."
Cole snapped her head up, "Preceptor!"
That is when the Preceptor gave her a look, a hardened stare behind his helmet, and that seemed to be enough. Instead of further protesting, Cole remained silent, nodded once, before turning and approaching where Lex laid.
Ace was expecting her to grab them, uncaring of how they scooped him into her hands. To their surprise however, she knelt and plucked each piece with care before finally grabbing Lex's core in the other. Then, they looked back at the other Revenants, and saw that they had already started to gather Nine and Akiva and allowed space for the twins to stand.
Then, Ace saw two of them head their way.
"Back off!"
At first, Ace was surprised at their own outburst, blinking as the two Hunters stared back. They then shifted their shell, pressing it against their core, making themself appear smaller but kept their optic narrowed.
"If you do anything to harm my Guardian, then you will pay." Ace threatened.
Despite their threat, the two Hunters simply glanced at each before one leaned down and scooped Ianos' unconscious form into their arms. Then, they followed Cole, the latter of which took the lead.
Although the Preceptor follows alongside them, this did little to ease Ace's worries. Or suspicions.
Eyeing the Preceptor, Ace's optic lingered over him, scaling down until they finally settled onto his arms: and recognized the design of the Impossible Machines.
Their optic grew wide.
But how?
Then, Ace shook their core.
What a foolish question. Fireteam Trinity were renowned during their time of activity.
When it was discovered that Zakai's gauntlets not only kept his light in check, but also helped the efficiency of Arc Light, many Warlocks took up the design, tweaking it to fit their person. Ace would not be surprised if this Preceptor was the same.
Nonetheless, Ace could still not shake off the sense of familiarity, a tug pulling in the back of their mind, practically screaming at them that they should know who this Preceptor is. But even as they dug through their memory, it eludes them, and finally, Ace decided to shrug it off. Ianos should be their first and foremost concern. They will worry about it once his life is no longer in danger.
This did not mean they took their optic away from the Preceptor and watched intently as he seemed to converse with Crystalline; judging from the way her shell shimmered and moved, it showed just how much she was speaking. Ace wouldn't be surprised if she told him what had happened since the loss of her first Guardian. And the Preceptor seems to be listening, judging from the way he would nod his head occasionally. But Ace would also catch him glancing over his shoulder, feeling his eyes scan over them and the others. A sign that he is being attentive to his surroundings.
Ace took note of this.
Seeing the head of the group enter another room, Ace glided close to Ianos, hovering just above his head as everyone else followed.
And there was no doubt this was a Medical Ward.
Rows of bedding can be seen lining the walls, white curtains splitting them in an attempt at privacy; it reminded Ace of back when the Medical Wing did something similar, back before a proper space in the Tower was made for it. And like any medical, the room held occupants.
Ace spotted Guardians – Revenants – lying in a few of the beds, and a handful more walking around, treating the injured. However, unlike the white garbs of the Medics – non-light users – these were adorned in armor – light, but armor, nonetheless.
At first, they were surprised; after all, Guardians are needed out in the field, not at base. But then, Ace reminded themself that these are the Revenants, they do not follow the same rules as the Tower. And to them, it makes sense; after all, who better to treat Chosen than Chosen themselves?
Nonetheless, the job as a Medic seems busy as usual, as the Revenants on site are running around, tending to those who lay injured and sick in bed.
"Set them here."
Shifting their attention back to the Preceptor, Ace found that the group had been led to a corner of the room, the Hunters already setting Ianos, Akiva, and Nine onto beds. Then, Ace watched as the Preceptor raise a hand toward Cole, seeing the Hunter dip her head before placing the familiar white and yellow shell of Lex in his palm. Ace couldn't help but flinch as the broken shell fell into his palm.
"How can you do this to a fellow Chosen?" Ace found themself saying, turning their orange optic to the Hunters, "You must have known the consequences-"
"Don't try to make us feel guilty." One of the Hunters snapped, "Do you know how many of our brothers and sisters fell to the Tower Guardians? How many of their Ghosts befallen to the weapons of the Tower?"
"Enough." The Preceptor stepped in, "I do not want to hear more of this." Despite his helmet, there is now an obvious scowl emitting behind it, "Have you all forgotten that every single one of us started the same? That all were Chosen who awoke to an unknown world, barely knowing anything but our name, and forced to fight in a battle against unknown threats?" Ace watched as the Preceptor looked around; the Hunters could barely look at him, "As of now, there is no Tower Guardians or Revenants. We all are brothers and sisters here, and I expect you to treat them as such."
Ace can tell that the Hunters weren't happy with his words – Cole especially – but they all simply nodded. This signaled the Preceptor to turn, setting Lex's broken form near Akiva's side. That is when Ace saw him pause and then his hands settle over Akiva's belt. And that is when Ace realized why.
Isamu's urn, dirty and dented, but intact against Akiva's waist.
Without another word, the Preceptor unclipped the urn from the Titan's belt and secured it to his own; a sign that Crystalline had informed the Preceptor of Isamu's fate.
"We are fortunate that only the shell was damaged and not the core." The Preceptor spoke, folding his hands behind his back as he turned back to the group, "Otherwise, this one would not have been capable of a full recovery." Then, his gaze fixed onto the Hunters, "Until then, you must keep the Guardian's body preserved and to keep his Ghost's light intact until they awaken for resurrection."
The Hunter's heads snapped up.
"But, Preceptor!"
"Penance for doing them harm when all they wanted was help." The Preceptor interrupted, "No arguments." He then sighed, and Ace watched as his eyes turned to Ianos, "Now then, I have another task at hand." The Preceptor approached Ianos' bedside, "It seems one of these Guardians are in need of Harmonization."
"What?!"
Ignoring the Cole's sound of protest, Ace instead narrowed their optic, hovering close near Ianos' head. Looking on at the Preceptor warily, they watched as the Preceptor scanned Ianos up and down.
"So, what Crystalline said was true." The Preceptor said, "Isamu indeed tore the Darkness from the Light, preventing it from devouring it further." There is a soft hum from him, "Temporarily." That is when he turned his attention to Ace, "With his current state, I am able to balance the Light and Darkness, stabilizing his life."
"What!? Preceptor!" It is Cole again, the Hunter taking steps to the Preceptor, "But he's-"
"What did I just say, Cole?" The stern tone in the Preceptor's voice once again silenced her, "There is no Tower or Revenants. They are guests." The displeasure is obvious behind his helmet, "I will tend to the Awoken before me. Focus on tending to the Ghost's Light and the Titan's body."
Seeing Cole's shoulders tense, hands trembling near her sides, Ace expected her to retaliate, to protest, but instead, she turned, taking her place near Akiva's bedside where her fellows already are on task. That is when Ace turned their attention back to the Preceptor.
"It seems that his light had been fighting the darkness for years." The Preceptor observed, placing both hands upon Ianos' chest, "decades. Centuries even." There is a flicker of white and dark violet between his fingers, "How long has he lived like this?'
Contemplating an answer, Ace debated on lying but thought against it; it would be beneficial for Ianos if they were to tell the truth.
"I would say the Great Disaster, but it was minor then." They answered, "He would have been able to exhume it from his body naturally if it weren't for the Last Will."
"Last Will?" The Preceptor repeated and Ace took note of this; a Guardian likely resurrected before the Great Disaster but had left not long after.
"A suicide mission that a Guardian willingly accepts." There is a jerk, a look from the Preceptor, "They weren't common back then but, my Guardians accepted one." Ace's shell shrank against their core, "However, instead of dying as expected, he came back alive, and the corruption to his light worse than ever."
"Then fortunate that you are that I am here." The Preceptor said, turning his eyes back to Ianos, "Although not a cure, it will prevent the Darkness from becoming a threat to his life."
"As long as he stays balanced, correct?" Ace asked, and the Preceptor turned his attention back to them, "Crystalline explained to us how it works."
There is a subtle lift of the chin from the Preceptor, "I see."
Then, he turned his attention back to his hands and Ace looked on with both concern and interest as the mix of light and darkness seemed to crawl across Ianos' chest, spreading like veins, webs crawling across his body. Then, when the veins crawled up Ianos' neck, that is when his eyes snapped open.
And his glowing orange eyes, now glowed green.
The same color as the Hive.
Before Ace could voice their surprise, Ianos took in a deep gasp, back arching against the bed, hands gripping the sheets.
"What's happening?" Ace questioned, turning their optic to the Preceptor, "What is going on?"
No sooner had they asked when suddenly, Ianos went slack, eyes blinking rapidly as the green glow in his eyes faded, the orange hue returning before they closed.
He was unconscious again.
That is when Ace heard the Preceptor let out a breath, prompting them to look and see him lift his hands off Ianos' chest. The webs of light and darkness, however, lingered over Ianos, until they faded, almost sinking into their Guardian.
"There is a case of momentary discomfort when balancing the light and the darkness." The Preceptor explained, shaking his hands and letting wisps of light and darkness fall from his fingertips, "A chance of corruption-"
"I- What!?" Ace shouted.
"But I was able to stabilize him," The Preceptor finished, "now, we must perform the Harmonization to help this balance stay as he is: balanced."
"I-We…" Ace hesitated, their orange optic glancing back and forth between Ianos and the Preceptor before finally, nodded once, "Thank you."
"Zakai, is that you?"
Startled, Ace turned their attention to Ianos, to see his eyes were half-opened and fogged.
"Ianos." Ace glided closer to the Awoken's face, "How are you feeling?"
Seeing Ianos' eyes shift around, seeing past everything, Ace recognized what was happening; they have seen it too many times not to.
That is when Ianos' attention settled over them.
"Where's Ari?"
A pang of hurt settled into Ace's core at his question, but nonetheless, they answered, "Don't you remember? Ari was sent away on a separate mission from you and Zakai." They hummed thoughtfully, playing along, "To help him become more, independent, if I recall."
Feeling the stares of those around them, Ace shrugged it off and instead, listened to Ianos as he asked, "And Zakai? Where is he?" He looked around, eyes searching, "Why is he not saying anything?"
"He's…" Ace paused, hesitated, core twisting, "He's sleeping." They then playfully dipped their shell at Ianos, "And you should follow his example. You did, after all, overexerted your light when fighting those Fallen."
There is a glimmer of defiance in their Guardian's eyes, but Ace simply stared back, standing their ground until finally, Ianos' gaze softened followed by a sigh and a nod. Then, he closed his eyes and just like that, he was asleep; thankfully his delirium allowed a memory where he was already exhausted.
If it had been one in the middle of a fight.
"Ace?" They heard Gemini call out, prompting them to turn towards the young Exo, "Is Ianos…?"
Right. The twins – and in extension the Galaxy Clan – haven't worked with Ianos long enough to see this side of him. Thus, the temptation to tell half-truths or outright lie lingered but again, Ace shrugged it off.
"Not uncommon, unfortunately." They answered, "But he will be fine. He just needs rest." Ace paused at the look of doubt that Gemini gave them, "A long rest."
Hearing nothing from Gemini, Ace momentarily flicked their optic to Scorpio, the latter of which quickly looked away and focused on Eidr. This prompted Ace to ignore the looks from the Revenants and instead turned their attention back to Ianos, using their light to scan his form; they want to see the full effects of what 'balancing' his light and darkness has done.
Thanks to this, there was an awkward silence, with nothing but the hum of their light and the steps of the Revenant Medics echoing in the background. Then finally, a pair of steps turned – more than likely the Preceptor – before they heard a shuffle, and they glanced back to see the Hunters huddled together; more than likely figuring out a rotation to keep an eye on Lex and Akiva.
This gave Nine the opportunity to look past them, look over Akiva, and linger over Nine. Their shell pressed against their core at the side of his damaged face and the absence of his right arm. Ace tried to recall a time when he had seen Nine in such a state. They can recall none.
Praying silently to themself for their recovery, Ace then heard soft bickering, prompting them to turn their attention to the twins.
The pair seemed to be arguing, with Gemini being the most animating, repeatedly gesturing towards the group of Hunters and then pointing at Scorpio's arms – or to be more precise, at Eidr. It didn't take much to hint at what she was trying to say.
In honesty, Ace had almost forgotten about the child, with all that was happening, and thus, the fate of the infant didn't really cross their mind. Especially considering that since Eidr is Isamu's and Jora's child and both are members of the Revenants, Ace had assumed that they would be leaving the child in their care. But seeing Scorpio clutch the child protectively against his chest and hiss back at his siter, Ace has a feeling that is not the case.
Nonetheless, they were tired and Ace shuffled Eidr's fate into the many notes that they have taken during this venture. Despite experience telling them to stay awake, Ace turned and settled in onto the pillow next to their Guardian's head, pressing themself against it before letting out a single sigh, and then powered down.