I really need a break from Iron Banner. The things I do for sick armor I'm probably never gonna use. I hope all of you guys are making better choices than I am. And if you aren't, well, misery loves company. Now, today's chapter will be the Last Chance. I've got two more chapters planned for the Witch Queen story, then two chapters dedicated to post-campaign stuff leading up to Vow of the Disciple as its own chapter. After that, we're going right into Season of the Risen.
If you enjoy it, feel free to leave a review saying what you liked. If you hate it, feel free to leave a review plucked from a five-hour video essay breakdown detailing exactly why my story doesn't work on a fundamental level.
Chapter 32: O' Witch Mine
"Tell me, O' Witch Mine, what secrets do you have to spill?" - Savathûn speaking to Lilith shortly after her possession
It was only a few minutes before the Guardians limped back into the Enclave, nursing their sores and licking their wounds. Hidden agents rushed across the mesa, carrying maps and artifacts plucked from Savathûn's realm. Gus waited for them as they touched down, immediately gesturing for them to follow him.
"The Commander and Iris just arrived a few minutes before you," he said, brushing past a trio of Warlocks consulting a pile of notes and records. Luz tried to take a peek as they walked past, only for one of the Hidden to shift herself in front of Luz, blocking her view. She frowned slightly before turning her attention back to Gus. "They're speaking with Ikora and Eris at the moment." They passed under a small stone archway leading to a secluded overhang.
Commander Zavala stood before them, his shining armor somehow unblemished by the Martian dust. His arms were crossed, and his expression was glowering. Iris was only a few paces away, her helmet secured to protect her face from the harsh conditions. Opposite from Zavala were Ikora and Eris, with the former in the midst of an argument with the Commander.
"Ikora, why would you keep this from me?" Zavala questioned. "If I had known…"
"I didn't keep anything from you, Zavala," Ikora said. Her eyes darted to the side, seemingly ashamed for the briefest moment. "Not intentionally. I couldn't fill you in on every minute detail—"
"When it comes to Savathûn, no detail is too small. You should know that better than anyone." As he spoke, Iris turned her head to the new arrivals but made no effort to invite them into the discussion. Luz got the feeling that they were intruding on something well above their pay grade.
"With the Consensus disbanded, the Vanguard is the only governing body left in the City," Iris said. "You need to communicate with each other on this. We cannot divide ourselves, especially not now."
"I just had to make a few judgment calls without you, as you do without me!" Ikora countered, her temper rising.
Zavala's ire rose to match. "Not on a matter like this!" The grounds fell silent, save for the dull whistle of the winds rolling over the dunes. Zavala closed his eyes and sighed before finally noticing the new arrivals.
"Guardians," he greeted with deceptive calm before returning to Ikora. "We can discuss this more later. My point, Ikora, is that we're meant to be a fireteam. You can't rely on your instincts alone."
"Perhaps I can't rely on them at all. The way this investigation is going, my judgment has been compromised. We're hunting after shadows, chasing shaky leads, with little to show for it." Ikora paused for a moment as she looked out over the windswept Martian desert, staring at the corpse of a once-great city. "I should step back. Let you and Eris handle this." The Warlock Vanguard dipped her head and departed, briskly brushing past the others as her robes fluttered behind her. Zavala watched her go, keeping his face tightly locked down. Eris stepped forward, holding out a hand to reach the Commander.
"Ikora's instincts are the only reason we've come so close to the truth. This new lead puts it firmly within our grasp."
Zavala looked away for a moment before finally uncrossing his arms. "Very well. Continue with your lead, and keep me posted." Eris nodded as Zavala turned, fading into transmat. She moved to address the assembled Guardians.
"With cooperation from Fynch, the Hidden have uncovered new evidence," she said. "And a source of mine has corroborated. We have pinpointed the location of a memento from Savathûn's last known location before her conversion to the Light."
"More like her abduction of it," Royal muttered. Eris fixed him with a piercing gaze, instantly shutting the Exo up.
"It is located deep within Savathûn's keep, in a place known as the Apothecary," Eris continued. Amity shot Royal a smug grin, prompting a silent eye roll from the Warlock under his helmet. "It will be difficult to reach, but we have no other options. Go there, and I shall be in touch."
"Sounds like you've all got your hands full," Iris said. "Wish I could help, but we've got Lucent Hive popping up all over Sol." She turned to Royal. "By the way, Paladin wants you to know that the Hive have stepped up their assault on the Isles. They're holding, but the fighting is only getting fiercer now that the Hive have Lightbearers of their own. Empress Caiatl is committing her Legion to assist in our operations."
Royal's stance immediately tightened at those words. He was glad his helmet masked the whirlpool of emotions rippling across his face. He barely managed a nod while croaking out, "I understand. Let him know that we're getting close to cornering Savathûn."
Iris tapped two fingers against the side of her helmet in salute before bowing and fading into transmat. Royal turned to the others and tilted his head to gesture for them to leave. After a few checks and a brief resupply, the three returned to the Throne World.
They flew toward Savathûn's grand palace, with its sweeping arches and imposing spires. All across the palace ground, Scorn and Hive forces clashed. They could see flashes of Light in the hordes as their ships flew overhead. All the main entrances were choked with Hive, which was fine as they planned to use a more obscure route.
They touched down at the outskirts of the palace, looking to use some old maintenance passages to slip inside. If Fynch's old maps held up, it would be a roundabout passage, but it would bring them directly to the Apothecary.
"Alright, time to get to it," Royal said, setting off along the path of old platforms and half-finished pillars. "Let's not stay longer than we have to. Get in, grab what we need, and get out."
"What are we looking for anyway?" Amity asked. The radio crackled to life as Eris spoke.
"A particular shard of crystal, hailing from Savathûn's time within the custody of the Awoken."
"A piece of her prison," Luz said.
"Indeed. It was likely on her when she stole the Light. My sources believe it may be the final piece we are missing—the piece that will unravel her schemes." The Guardians rushed along the scaffolding, leaping across chasms and sneaking under the watchful eyes of Shriekers. Whenever the path ended, Luz revealed more platforms for them to traverse. They pressed on relentlessly, sneaking around the perimeter of Savathûn's keep.
Reaching a large overhang stocked with inactive Tombships, the Guardians fell still. Royal crouched near the platform's edge, peering through his scope as he swept the area ahead. While he did, the radio crackled once more.
"Eris, what's the situation?" Commander Zavala asked.
"The Guardians are en route," Eris replied. "With luck, they shall arrive shortly."
"Good. You're sure this will get us the answers we need? We can't afford any more dead ends." Royal signaled for the others to move up. They advanced upon the landing pad, moving slowly to avoid accidentally stumbling upon any patrols. Strangely, the area appeared abandoned. Not wishing to question good fortune, they pressed inside the palace.
"I can assure you it will, Commander," Eris said. "The Queen of the Reef does not share information lightly."
"Queen Mara is your source?" Luz asked as they ducked through decrepit hallways. There were no patrols in sight, almost as though this wing had been forgotten—or vacated.
"I mentioned it to Ikora moments before the Commander interrupted us," Eris replied cooly. "She agreed there was no more reliable source on the matter than Savathûn's former captor."
Zavala sighed wearily. "I trust Mara, but she plays her cards too close to her chest. If she had shared this earlier, we wouldn't be so desperate now."
"To win against the God of Cunning and Lies, it's best not to reveal your hand too early," Eris said. The Guardians continued through the tunnels until Luz raised a hand, signaling them to stop.
"Hang on, I can feel something." She set a hand against the wall, searching for a spot of dense psychic energy. Her mind bubbled as she searched. She felt a prick in her hand, then a feeling of being submerged in icy waters up to her wrist. Stepping back, she plunged her fingers into the wall. The illusion faded with an equal mixture of green light and blue smoke. "Come on, this way's quicker."
"How can you tell?" Royal asked, stepping through the hole Luz had just made. She shrugged, feeling the pull of the currents guiding her. She wasn't sure she could trust it, but it hadn't steered them wrong.
"I'm just listening to the lingering traces of Darkness," Luz said. "I don't think it likes Savathûn anymore than we do."
"The Witch Queen may have cast her Throne World in a lucent sheen, but the remnants of Dark architecture still lurk underneath," Eris said.
"And Luz has mastered the ability to peel these layers away," Zaval said impatiently. "Ikora already explained this to me. Why can't we use the Light to achieve the same result?"
"The Light may be a powerful force, but when dealing with illusions, it has proven insufficient."
"Not to mention that Savathûn has mixed her knowledge with that of the Isles," Amity added as they continued their march. "We're facing something entirely-" Before she could finish, she began to retch. She stumbled, falling to her knees and clawing at her throat as she hacked. The others stopped, turning to her in worry.
"Amity, what is it?" Royal asked, reaching down to her.
"Magic," she croaked out between labored breaths. "Tainted… desecrated… cursed…" She succumbed to another fit of coughs, though less pained now. "This place is thick with the stuff. But what she's done to it… it's vile. Savathûn has corrupted it."
"Can you continue," Royal asked. Amity nodded, setting a hand against the side of her head as she rose.
"Yeah, I'll be fine. I just wasn't ready for it." She rubbed her throat as she spoke. "Alak-Hul wasn't lying; Savathûn has something here, something she's studying for magic."
"We'll grab it if we can," Royal said. "But the crystal is our top priority." Amity nodded in agreement as they reached a large door. If their maps were correct, it would lead them to the Apothecary. Of course, it could never be that easy. A Lightbearer Acolyte stood guard in the dimly lit, flanked by a horde of Thrall.
The Guardians huddled behind the massive pillars supporting the sweeping dome overhead. The Thralls milled about, occasionally jostling each other. Whenever they came into contact with one of their kin, they traded shrill barks and screeches. Eventually, it escalated to flashing claws. The Lightbearer was forced to step in, pulling two particularly rowdy Thrall apart and dashing the instigator's brains on the floor.
"Quiet down, all of you!" He growled. "Guard duty is insufferable enough as it is!" The Thrall chittered as they dispersed. The Acolyte grunted and shook his head. "This station is beneath me."
Behind the pillars, Royal flashed a quick hand signal. The Guardians fanned out, dashing between pillars whenever the Acolyte's attention was elsewhere. Some of the Thrall whined, baying at the wavering shadows. One drew close to Amity's hiding place. The Witch summoned her gauntlet as it sniffed the air. The Thrall began to growl, its throat rumbling deep within its body like a soft drum.
"What are you getting at now," The Acolyte snapped, seizing the Thrall by the neck. The creature gargled as it bucked in his grasp, trying to tear free so it could lunge at Amity. The Acolyte threw it to the ground. "One more sound from you, and I'll rip your throat out." He turned the glare at the other Thrall, lightning sparking in his eyes. "Which is nothing compared to what I'll do to all of you."
Amity saw a flash on the corner of her HUD; Royal was signaling her to move in. Her motion tracker showed the Warlocks in position. After taking one last glance, she charged.
By the time the Acolyte realized she was coming, her fist was already introducing itself to his face. The Hive Hunter reeled back, clutching his mashed face as the Thrall howled. Before the horde could react, jets of flame scoured their ranks. Royal dove into their midst, incinerating the Thralls. He set upon the horse like an avenging angel.
"Guardians have infiltrated the palace!" The Hunter shouted, summoning his curved spear and dodging away from Amity's second strike. "They seek the treasures of the Witch Queens vaults! Bar them here!"
The remaining Thrall howled, baying for blood as they dove at Amity. She caught the first one as it leaped at her and slammed it into the ground before crushing it under her boot. A second landed on her back, digging its claws into her armor. Reaching up, she tore the creature off her back and swung it into a third. Before the horde could fully encircle her, a blast of lightning scattered them. The stench of ozone clung to her armor as scores of Thrall died. Luz floated down beside her, already turning her attention to the Acolyte. The Hunter snarled as he spun his staff overhead before leveling the speartip on the Guardians.
"How does it feel, knowing that your Traveler abandoned you for us?" He taunted. "Worry not, little Light. I shall reunite you with your god."
With a roar, he charged. Lighting coursed through his limbs, pushing him faster than he had any right to be. Amity barely raised her shield before the guandao sliced through her. The blow rattled the bones in her arm, sending a jolt of pain through the limb. Luz tried to retaliate with a burst of lightning, only for the Hunter to slip away. He flowed like the current, weaving around Luz's lightning bolts. His guandao flashed as he lunged at the pair, illuminating the dim room with crackling blue light. The blade glanced off Amity's shield before whisking toward Luz, forcing the Warlock back again.
Amity planted the barrel of her rifle on the edge of her shield and squeezed the trigger. A trio of bullets spat out the end, tearing through the air like comets across the night sky. The Acolyte spun his guandao, diverting the bullets into the walls around them. Amity kept firing as Luz circled around the Hunter, blue crystals swirling around her hands. Once Amity's magazine ran dry, the Acolyte swiped upward. A wave of electric energy struck Amity. It was all the Witch could do to bite back a scream as her muscles contracted. She collapsed to the ground as electricity racked her body, forcing her to convulse in pain.
"One down, two to go," the Acolyte said.
Seeing Amity take the blow, Luz pounced. The tip of her sapphire staff slammed into the ground, sending ripples through the floor. Mounds of crystal shot upward like icy mountains, threatening to skewer the Hunter. He rolled out of the way, his motion blurred from the speed. Before Luz could raise her staff again, the Acolyte was practically on top of her. The tip of his guandao cut into her thigh, his blade parting her armor as easily as a butcher's cleaver parts venison. Blood welled up in the shallow gash, and crimson rain fell from her leg. The Hunter gave her no time to process her wound, already striking again with the butt of his weapon. Luz blocked it with her forearm and retaliated with a jab from her staff. By the time she finished her lunge, the Hunter had already dodged away. The damned Arcstrider was too fast for her.
"A Guardian wielding the Darkness against a Hive wielding the Light?" The Acolyte chuckled as he rested his guandao on his shoulder. Behind him, Amity was getting back to her feet, murder in her eyes. The Hunter stabbed the tip of his glaive into the ground, shattering the tiles beneath him. "The Witch Queen does have such a wonderful sense of irony."
The Acolyte certainly seemed to like the sound of his own voice. That was good; she could use that. She caught Amity's gaze and sent a series of flashes over the HUD. Amity seemed to understand the idea, keeping herself low and quiet while the Hunter focused on Luz. Underneath her helmet, Luz grinned.
"She certainly does. But that's not the only thing she's got."
The Hunter scowled as he readied his guandao again. "Do tell, what do you refer to?" Luz gripped her staff tightly in both hands, feeling the entropic powers coursing through her arms. She was vaguely aware of Royal tearing through the Thrall. The tide was stemming; he was almost through with them. She sent a signal to Amity, telling her to strike.
"A fuck ton of enemies."
Amity's metal-clad forearms wrapped around the Hunter's chest and squeezed, shattering the outer layers of the Acolytes chitin. The Acolyte wheezed as his focus was shattered like his chest. The Light ceased to flow through his limbs as he bucked and thrashed in Amity's arms. She reinforced her grip with goo, anchoring herself to the ground as Luz thrust at the Acolyte. Stasis shot from the tip of her staff, instantly crystalizing the Hunter when it made contact with his chest. The Acolyte's struggling ceased as it froze over. With one mighty arm, Amity reached up and slammed the Acolyte into the ground. He instantly shattered into thousands of tiny chunks, scattering across the floor like dice. A Ghost appeared between the two, already trying to flee. Unfortunately for the Ghost, Amity was faster. With a dry snap, its core was crushed into a puff of smoke and an eruption of Light. The Ghost's shell fell to the ground as Royal crushed the last Thrall ribcage under his boot.
Royal looked up, taking stock of the Hunter's shattered remains. He nodded in approval and rejoined the two, scraping Hive gunk off his gauntlets. Flicking a chunk of the vile biomatter to the floor, he inclined his head toward Luz. "Did you really say that Savathûn has 'a fuck ton of enemies'?"
She set her hands on her hips, "Maybe."
Royal chuckled and gave her chest a light punch. "Nice to know that you've become more eloquent with age." Luz shared in his amusement for a moment before tilting her head toward the door the Acolyte was guarding.
"We can't be far from the Apothecary."
"We're not," Amity said, wrinkling her nose in disgust. "We're practically knocking on the door. I can taste its repellent presence." She sighed heavily. "No amount of mouthwash is ever gonna get the flavor out of my mouth, will it?" Royal offered a sympathetic shoulder pat as he stepped past her.
"At least it's not all bad," Luz said as they fell in behind him. "Once we find these relics of Savathûn's, we'll deal her a crippling blow." She slammed a fist into her palm, accentuating it with a crack-pow. Amity giggled, nodding along to Luz's words.
"Right you are, as usual," she said before pausing. She averted her gaze, pointedly staring at the floor. Eventually, she picked her gaze back up and looked at Luz. "I'm glad that, despite everything, you're still with me."
Luz's eyebrows crept up a little in surprise at the unexpected statement. Electing to roll with it, she nudged Amity's arm with her elbow. "Of course. You're not getting rid of me so easily."
Before the Amity could reply, Royal held out a hand. They instantly stopped and drew their weapons, moving up beside him as he looked forward. They were on the edge of a massive bridge overlooking a pit descending into the depths of Savathûn's Throne World, with the bottom far out of sight. Faint screams could be heard from the depths of the pit. Something leaked out of the pit, vaguely familiar but far too tainted to recognize. Across the bridge was a massive spire, towering over everything save Savathûn's main keep.
The three shared a look. No words passed between them, but they all understood what to do regardless. With their weapons drawn and gazes cast wide, they crossed the bridge. Luz's eyes sparked as she cracked the glyphs locking the front door. The door swung open, revealing the pale, cylindrical interior.
"As you enter the heart of Savathûn's chambers, know that you will see much which defies understanding," Eris said. "The gift provided to you by the Black Fleet shall prove invaluable. Do you see now, Commander, why Ikora made the choice she did?"
"My issue is not with the call Ikora made," Zavala said tersely. "Only that she made it alone. We know how Savathûn operates. She isolates people, singling them out. There's no need to make her job easier. And Eris, I think that you should know better than anyone that Darkness is not a path to be forged alone."
"She was not alone," Eris replied smoothly. "Though I see your point."
The Guardians tread into the heart of the Apothecary and peered up. Stairs spiraled skyward along the walls. The walls themselves were lines with capsules filled with something Luz didn't recognize but felt that she should. It pulsated erratically, nauseating her with its almost organic motions. As she looked at it, she could feel her heartbeat changing to match its tempo. With great effort, she tore her gaze away.
"This place is filled with caged Light," Lancer said, his shell shrinking as he kept close to Royal. The Warlock's fists tightened as he cast his gaze around.
"Savathûn has always encouraged her Wizards to push boundaries," Eris said as she watched through their feed. "Her theft of the Light has granted them new possibilities. This place will house their most wretched experiments. It is proof, perhaps, that corruption has far less to do with power and rather the one wielding it."
"Or that power has permanent side effects," Zavala muttered. "The Darkness turned Savathûn and her kin from prey to predators, and the entire Universe has been suffering the consequences ever since."
"Perhaps not the Darkness itself, but a being behind it," Royal offered. "Savathûn spoke of it. She sounded afraid. Amity's reports on the Collector seem to corroborate."
As he said that, Amity groaned, swaying as she put a hand on her head. If this place set Luz on edge, she could only imagine how Amity felt. She took the Titan's arm in support as they began their ascent. The halls were filled with Acolytes, with a few scattered Knights and the odd Ogre or two offering support. They offered little resistance as the Guardians plowed through them.
"Intel from Fynch indicates that Savathûn has appointed one of her high council to guard the Apothecary," Zavala said. "Find and eliminate them, then secure whatever you can."
"Understood, sir," Royal said. "We're advancing as we-" Without warning, Luz snapped out and grabbed him by the collar. She pulled him back, away from the step he had been about to take.
"Don't," she said. "It's a false step. An illusion." Royal huffed as she knelt before the trap. Coils of magic were bundled up within it. Should someone's foot fall upon it, it would burst, sealing the interloper and trapping them within the Apothecary for Savathûn's Wizards to pry apart. A part of her drew some amusement from the idea of Royal tearing his way out of the enchantment and setting upon whoever was unfortunate enough to find him first. Still, it would be best not to spring any traps they didn't have to.
She looked to the side, piercing the boundary between the real and the unreal. More steps manifested from nothing yet were as impermeable as Savathûn's ego. With a tilt of her head, they set off on their new path. With each step they took, the perversion of the room grew heavier and heavier. It wasn't helped by Amity, who was forced to lean on Luz more and more as they ascended.
After a few more detours born of Savathûn's twisted vision, they reached the zenith of the spire. A few large doors lined the hall, stretching around the top ring. Each step with Amity on her shoulder felt like she was trying to pull a mountain. Luz lowered the Titan to the ground and set her back against the wall. She pulled Amity's helmet free with a sharp hiss. Amity's breath was labored, and her hair was matted with sweat. Bone-pale skin matched her bloodshot eyes as she offered a weak grin.
"Don't wait for me," she croaked. "I'll be be fine. Find the crystal." Luz looked her up and down, reluctant to leave. Royal set a hand on her shoulder and gestured for her to follow him.
"Amity can take care of herself," he said. "We have a job to do." Luz nodded, though she refused to leave without at least offering Amity an orb of healing Light before she left. The Witch sighed as the rejuvenating euphoria swept through her.
"Don't worry, I'll keep an eye on her," Pal said, appearing beside his Guardian. Luz spared one last glance before the Warlocks set off, moving down the hall and leaving Amity to her thoughts. Her heart was throbbing, and her brain ached. Tendrils of corrupted magic wound around her, burying its thorns in her flesh. She didn't need Luz's special vision to see the swarming energies in the air. Light. Dark. Magic. They crashed together in a hypnotic display that fried her senses.
With her body now lying static, she had little to do but let her mind wander. She could feel the currents swirling around her, threatening to tear her apart in their tide. She followed these paths, tracing them with her eyes. Light was everywhere, caked into Apothecary itself. Darkness hung in the air like a lingering plague, long since buried. Magic, however, drifted from a fixed point. A door, not but a few paces down. Were she at her normal strength, she would be upon it in a few seconds. Alas, as she was, she could barely muster the strength to lift her arm.
"Pal, there's something over there," she said, pointing with the slightest tilt of her head. "Can you look at it, please?"
"I said I'd watch over you," he objected.
"I need your help. It's important; I can feel it."
The Ghost looked between the door and her a few times before sighing. "This is a bad idea." He drifted toward the door, pushing through the thick molasses of clashing forces. Upon arriving at the door, he slipped inside, vanishing from sight.
Elsewhere within the Apothecary, Royal and Luz were nearing their prize. Bundles of psychic energy were laden in the walls, growing denser and denser with each step. There was power in this memory, some incredible secret that Savathûn definitely didn't want to be found.
The end of the hall was in sight. Altars lined the walls while braziers hung from the ceiling, burning incense piles in great green fire pillars. A half dozen Acolytes were crouched before a central altar, their hands raised in prayer. Levitating atop the altar was a shard of sky-glue glass, easily as long as Luz's spine. It shone iridescently in the wavering light, glittering with lingering Awoken magic and psychic resonance.
"We've found the crystal," Luz said. "Looks like we're interrupting something here. But the Wizard is nowhere in sight."
"Then I don't think they'll mind us taking our prize," Royal said, stepping forward to seize the crystal. The Acolytes rose to their feet, drawing their weapons on the Warlock. He gave a dismissive flick of his wrist, flinging a barrage of fireballs at the Hive. He stepped past them as they were incinerated, reaching out to grab the crystal. Before he could, a pinprick of Light appeared before him. It rapidly expanded as Royal retreated, drawing his sword. Behind him, Luz shouldered Coldheart. The bead of Light expanded into a Hive Wizard, coated in a thick chitinous plate reinforced by the Light. Solar flames crackled along her arms as she stared contemptuously at the Humans.
"Guardians," she said, her voice shrill and scratchy. "Savathûn anticipated your arrival." She thrust her hands outward, summoning a pair of blazing scimitars. Fire dripped off the blades as she scrapped them together, sounding vaguely like a bonfire swelling in size.
"Then she knows we aren't leaving without that crystal," Royal spat, disgusted by this mockery of his power. "Stand aside, and I will make this swift."
"Do not presume to command me," the Wizard scowled. "I am among Savathûn's high council, equerry to the Mother of Lies herself."
"Savathûn knew we would be here and only put you on defense," Luz said. "She must want us to take the crystal." The Hive Warlock didn't rise to her jab, simply narrowing her eyes as the three spread out. Each of them stood still, patiently waiting for someone else to make a move. Lament's engine purred softly with anticipation as Royal's fingers lightly grazed the trigger. Coldhearts reactor display illuminated Luz's visor. Flames battled in the Wizard's three eyes as she looked between the two Guardians. At that moment, the Throne World was silent.
Embers sparked in the air as the Wizard swung her scimitars, slinging lashes of flames at Royal. Using Lament's considerable bulk as a shield, he shrugged off the attack and charged. Coldheart whined as Luz fired, only for the beam to be deflected by the Wizard's blades. She relinquished her grip on the trigger as Royal lunged at the Wizard. Their swords met in a clash of sparks, spraying burning energy around the room.
"We have come for Savathûn's treasures," Royal said, shoving the Wizard back. She retaliated with two slashes, unleashing burning waves that the Warlock dodged around. As he did, Luz opened fire once more, frying the Wizard's outer armor. Royal stepped back in, his sword swinging upward where it was caught by the Wizard's guard. "We will have vengeance for everything she has done."
"You have no comprehension of what she has done," the Wizard spat. "How much she has sacrificed for her spawn!" She floated back, her blades weaving in infernal arcs. The air was filled with flame, driving Luz behind whatever cover she could find. As she did, Knights emerged from the side rooms, bearing swords and cannons. She swung her attention to them, her hands crackling with power.
Royal pushed through the Wizard's assault, ignoring his melting armor and burning robes. "The Light is ours! Your kind had its chance, and the Traveler has found you unworthy!"
Royal roared as their blades met again. Lament's teeth howled for blood as they ground against the refined Solar Light of the Wizard. His artificial muscles pumped as Light flooded through them. He shoved the Wizard's guard aside and struck, cutting through one of her arms. The Wizard tried to distance herself, only for Royal's hand to lash out and seize her by the throat. Her one good arm swung up, cutting into Royal's face. He gasped, relinquishing his grip and stumbling back in pain. His helmet was marred by a massive searing gash. The plate was molten, dripping melted metal to the floor, where it sizzled angrily.
The Wizards glared at Royal as he looked up. She could now see his marred face through the gap in his helmet. The optic she had cut through had gone dim. An eye for an arm, and both were still in the fight.
"Do not speak of the Travelers will," Royal hissed as their swords met again. He overpowered the Wizard, sending her sprawling. "Your ilk are nothing more than vermin, clawing for power wherever it may lie." Grabbing the back of the Wizard's head, he slammed her face into the wall, cracking the bone plates protecting her face. "You are nothing more than a plague, infecting countless worlds with your filth. The Light shall burn your infestation clean, and we are the Traveler's chosen warriors!" Royal raised Lament overhead in a two-handed grip, preparing to bring it down. "There shall be no trace left of your existence, save for in the memories of those who conquered you!"
The Wizard laughed, an ugly and pained sound from her shattered face. "You truly know nothing. The Traveler does not care for you. It never did." She struggled to lift her head until their eyes properly met. Royal could see the bitter amusement in her eyes, even in her pained state. "You are a pawn to be played and captured, a tool to be used and broken, a blade to be blunted and thrown away. Humanity was never anything more than the Traveler's last gambit! You never earned the power you were given; you were simply the only option. And now that a superior choice has presented itself, the Traveler has-" The Wizard was cut off when she was cut in half. Royal swung downward, cleaving the Wizard from top to bottom. Lament's teeth dug into her flesh, ripping her apart with bloodthirsty glee.
"It is you who knows nothing," Royal spat, seizing her Ghost in one burning hand. "And the Traveler has no need for traitors." His heart hardened, and the Ghost was slain. That wave of revulsion returned, though dimmed by his fury. He had no pity for these unfaithful betrayers. The Light was Humanities, and Humanities alone. The Traveler had visited species innumerable, yet it was with Humanity that it had made its final stand.
He turned back to Luz as she put down the final Knight, his carapace smoking from her touch. Looking up, she offered him a nod. Royal stepped back as she approached the crystal and felt the scar on his faceplate. The metal was reknitting itself, slowly but surely. It stung, but it was nothing he hadn't endured hundreds of times. Despite that, the ache seemed more visceral than usual, like the pain was on a deeper level.
He banished the thought from his mind as Luz reached out to the crystal. Her hands wrapped around the shimmering splinter. A wave of psychic energy crashed out of the shard, slamming into their minds like a tsunami.
"Devotion inspires bravery." Savathûn's voice poisoned their minds, drowning out all other thoughts. The pain Royal felt was forcefully ebbed away as the Witch Queen's memory overpowered all. "Bravery inspires sacrifice. And sacrifice…"
Luz looked around in confusion, a hand resting against the side of her head to nurse the soreness she felt. "That… was the Guardian creed. Why would Savathûn…?"
"There's no point standing around wondering," Royal said.
Luz nodded. "We need to regroup with Amity anyway."
"I'm sure she's fine," Royal said as they set off. "Her vitals have remained… well, as stable as they can be in this place."
"I know, I know. I've just got a bad feeling about this place."
They rounded the bend where Amity was waiting for them. She had forced herself to her feet despite the pain such exertion must have caused. Her back was to the Warlocks as she tried in vain to force a door open. Pal darted around her shoulders frantically, unsure of what to do. As the two approached, she glanced over her shoulder. Somehow, she looked even worse than she had when they had left.
"Good, you have the crystal," she panted, her breaths greedy and pained. Sweat fell off her face in great bomb-like drops as she struggled. Luz was beside her in an instant, taking the Witch's weight onto her shoulder. Amity raised a feeble finger, pointing at the door. "It's in there."
"The object Savathûn stole from the Isles so long ago," Pal elaborated. "I couldn't make out what it was exactly, but I could feel the magic coming from it.
Luz shared a look with Royal. "I mean, we're already here. We may as well take it."
Royal nodded in agreement. "If it will hurt Savathûn, it's worth the time." He stepped up to the door and set his fists ablaze. A few well-placed strikes dented the frame as the heat of Royal's flames weakened the bonds holding it together. With one final kick, he broke the door down and rushed into the room.
It was clearly a trophy hall of some kind, laden with relics taken from the Isles. The skulls of ancient beasts, the branch of a Palistrom tree, and countless paintings and sculptures. There were more books than any of them could count detailing everything there was to know of the Isles; history, cultures, geography, biology… even his own adventures. But none of that held his focus for more than a second. The real treasure was at the back.
It was a massive tube filled with murky green liquid. A few smaller pipes branched out, cycling something through the fluid. Amity writhed at the sight of the thing; this must be what was causing her so much pain. Royal approached the console before it, inspecting the Hive runes cautiously.
"Fynch, I need your eyes here."
"Royal, what is this?" Zavala asked. Royal looked up at the tube, grimacing in morbid anticipation.
"I don't know, but it can't be good."
Fynch chirped as he spoke up. "Lemme see the runes." Royal obliged, turning his head back to the symbols on the console. "Let's see. Filter, filter, filter… Ah, there it is. Press the second from the left."
Royal complied, placing his hand over the symbol Fynch indicated. The reaction was instant as the murky waters began to glow. It was also evident in Amity as the color rushed back to her face, and she took a deep breath. The foggy liquid began to clear as whatever contaminants were present within were pumped out. His fingers curled around the edge of the terminal anxiously as that which lay within was slowly revealed.
The humanoid figure was gaunt, almost impossibly skeletal. Ribs could be seen under pale skin, a clear sign of malnutrition. Their body was wholly uncovered, leaving all their ashen flesh exposed to their audience as some sick joke of Savathûn's. Faint green lines crossed over their body like surgical scars, lingering signs of Savathûn's experiments. Their ears were sharp and pointed like arrows, and a short nest of rust-colored hair sat atop their head. Worst of all were the eyes, open but vacant and unseeing. Those mismatched green and grey eyes that Royal hadn't seen in so long.
Amity gasped, stepping away from the horrific sight before her. "It… it can't be."
"No." Royal was in utter disbelief. "No, no, no! What has she done to you?"
Lilith Clawthrone didn't respond, not that she was able to. She drifted lazily in the tube, deceptively unbothered and peaceful. Her body was frighteningly still, save for how it swayed through the liquid. Fearing the worst, Royal's optics darted all over her body. To his relief, he could see the faintest rise and fall of her chest. She was sedated, likely with magic. The fluids within must be some kind of breathable rejuvenation compound that had kept her alive for all these centuries.
"We have to get her out," Amity said, grabbing Royal's arm and nearly shoving him out of the way. Behind them, Luz hadn't moved, still staring in slack-jawed horror at the decrepit Witch.
"Fynch, how do we release her?" Royal asked. "Which rune, dammit!"
"I-I-I don't know," the Ghost stammered. "I don't think Savathûn ever intended to let her go."
Royal looked into Lilith's blank eyes and felt his rage burning. For a moment, his mind flashed with visages of Savathûn's mocking face. He envisioned the moment when he would finally get his hands on her. How he would tear into her flesh, rip apart her bones, gouge out her eyes, and strangle her with her own innards.
Amity's words pulled him from his internal desire. She was frantically pushing every button she could, not receiving the response she wanted. Royal narrowed his optics and stepped atop the console. He reared back and struck the tube, easily shattering the glass-like material. The fluids rushed out, spilling across the floor and carrying Lilith's unconscious body with it. Royal and Amity caught her before she hit the ground, her body limp and colder than the winds of Europa. He reached into transmat as Amity gently set her on the ground. Pulling out a spare set of robes, he swiftly tore them along the seam and wrapped the fabric around Lilith before tying it tight. As he did, Luz set a burning palm against her back to warm her.
Lilith's eyes had rolled into the back of her head, but her body was beginning to twitch. She shook as she violently coughed, expelling the liquid from her lungs. Her eyelids sealed themselves shut, and her body fell limp once again. Thankfully, she was still breathing.
The radio crackled to life as Commander Zavala began to speak. "What… who exactly is this."
Royal looked down at Lilith as she lay on the ground, her body entirely unresponsive. He lifted one of her arms and checked her pulse, which was steady but faint. "A friend I thought I lost a long time ago."
"She might know how Savathûn has been wielding Isles magic," Amity added.
"I understand," Zavala said. "Bring her back to the Enclave; we'll have a medical team waiting for your arrival."
"I- Thank you, Commander," Royal said.
"We will make Savathûn regret this," the Commander said. "Mark my words." The line fell silent; nobody else felt like talking as the grim reality of Savathûn's twisted experiments was still fresh in their memories.
A loud roar resounded through the Apothecary. The Hive were descending upon them. The building shook under the weight of the approaching army as they rose to their feet. Royal gingerly lifted Lilith as though she were as fragile as the surface of an undisturbed pond. Amity readied her shield while Luz drew Coldheart off her back.
"Stay behind us," she said. "We'll clear a path."
The three ran as though they were outrunning the end of the world itself. Hive poured out of every possible opening, only to be practically flattened by the Guardians as they ran. Lilith threatened to tear herself out of Royal's arms with every shot that struck his back and every explosive moth that grazed his armor, but he pushed on regardless. They tore out the front door of the Apothecary. Fortunately, Zavala had already dispatched their ships to receive them. There was a feeling of weightlessness as they transmatted onboard.
Royal slumped into his seat as Lancer steered the ship away from the Hive. It rattled under concentrated Ogre fire. He heard one engine whining but couldn't bring himself to focus on that as he carefully nestled Lilith between supply boxes in the back of his ship.
They broke free of the Throne World, soaring once more over the Martian dunes. Unfortunately, it did little to assuage the Exo as bitter guilt racked his wiry guts. He should have been there. He should have done something, anything, to save her. It was his fault, all his fault…
His grip on the throttle tightened as his optics burned with raw hatred. Savathûn's days were numbered, and he could not wait to watch her burn.
Kaboom, Lilith is still alive! Talk about a reveal. I know I've been saying that she's dead for a while now, but I was actually employing the ancient technique of being a lying bastard. Just to get this out there and be one hundred percent clear on the matter: yes, Lilith was naked when they found her. I hope it didn't come across as weird or pervy; it was meant to accentuate the sheer wrongness of what Savathûn had done to her. Lilith is vulnerable, and she was—for lack of a better word—violated by Savathûn.
Now, onto less sensitive topics. Act 2 of Revenant. The structure of the Episodes has been doing Bungie no favors. Honestly, I think that a lot of Revenant's story issues would have been mitigated if it was just a traditional seasonal story. The whole "freeing Eramis" situation strikes me as something that should have been the stinger at the end of one week before having a more dedicated discussion in the next. I still appreciate some of the filler being chopped out, but it leaves the story feeling very sparse.
However, Act 2 has given me a lot of ideas on what I could do in terms of altering Revenant to fit this story. More importantly, it's also helped me get some new ideas pertaining to Echoes. Obviously no guarantees, as these Episodes are still way out, but I have a concept at the very least.
Also, did anyone else think that the Variks cutscene right after Skolas popped out was really poorly placed? Like, give that to us after the mission or something.
GuardianLightTheVanguard: 1) what do you think about the activities and events of Act 2 of Revenant, could you tell your opinion my friend.
2) if what Savathûn is hiding is really OwlBert and Lilith's Palisman Crow, I hope they keep Royal and Lancer company on their adventures, just like Stringbean with Luz Noceda and Amity with Ghost, since their owners Eda and Lilith They are absent.
3) If You Are Thinking About Doing Another Destiny Crossover Fanfic With Another Franchise Besides The Owl House, And I Know Which Franchise You Could Start And I Would Like You To Comment With Your Followers If They Would Like To See This Crossover, And It Is with a Franchise that I'm a big fan of and I would really like to see this Crossover Story written by you, my friend Penguin1673.
4) You watched the Movie Transformers One, you could share your opinion about the Movie My Friend, but in my opinion I thought it was Incredible, Spectacular, Beautiful and Wonderful and Absolute Cinema My Friend.
5) Speaking of Transformers, in addition to you writing Light Does Not Yield, would it be possible for you to write the Crossover Destiny and Transformers Prime Please my friend Penguin1673, in addition to The Owl House, this would also be a big dream come true and I would like to see this Crossover Written by you my friend, but of course the main focus will be on Light Does Not Yield while Destiny Fanfic and Prime transfomers will remain in the background, it's because only 3 authors wrote this crossover, 1 on Archiveofourown and 2 on Wattpad but They didn't want to continue and abandoned the Story, but They can serve as inspiration for you on where and how to start writing your Story, for example the Autobot Guardian Story, just read it the Story that You can be inspired by it to Write your Story Ok My Friend, and I will be Here Waiting for your answer in the next Chapter of Light Does Not Yield and also in the PM of the Fanfiction website ok my friend.
6) Continuation of Question 5, and here are the names and history of the authors of the Destiny crossover and Prime transfomers who abandoned the history that I mentioned in the previous question for you to see my friend.
7) Could I See This Story Of This Crossover Of Destiny And Transformers Prime Written By You, Someday My Friend Penguin1673.
8) I agree with Unity123's comment on the involvement of Alak-Hul's participation in the dungeon and the Seasons and you my friend, could you share your opinion please.
9) I hope Iris and Crow are in the Vanguard Gathering cutscene after the Discovery That the Traveler Brought Savathûn Back as a Guardian.
1. The activities have been alright, I guess. Salvation Onslaught is more Onslaught, which is great because Onslaught rocks. Tomb of Elders is fine, but I haven't run it very much, been busy playing Space Marine 2. The problem they have is that the loot chase just isn't there. I'm not going to get into the whole crafted vs non-crafted weapon debate, but these seasonal guns just aren't good enough to get me going. Even the few I am interested in have alternatives of equivalent or superior power.
2. Ah, how insistent you were. How does vindication taste? I'll be open right now: Lilith does have her Palisman, she is still cursed, and she does not have her magic or the Light.
3. I'm not currently planning any other crossovers. I'm leaning more toward original work. My parents keep pestering me to do that, at the very least. But hey, things are always susceptible to the whims of Tzeentch.
4. I have seen Transformers One. Watched it like, three times. Hands down the best Transformers movie and it is not even close. If I had to the rank the movies, it would be: One, Rise of the Beasts (purely personal preference, objectively it's just ok), 87/Bumblebee kinda vying for third, 07, Dark of the Moon, Revenge of the Fallen, a steaming pile of shit, and battling for last place are Age of Extinction and The Last Knight.
5. All I can say is maybe. But who knows, maybe some other Royal variant from some other timeline has his/her own wacky story to be told.
6. I cut the stories out to save on bloat, but they're in the review proper if anyone is curious.
7. If I do make it, yes.
8. I've got a few ideas where the loose thread that is Alak-Hul could go. Nothing concrete yet.
9. That scene is written. Crow will not be.
Unity123: *Secretly overheard Willow's smart remark and moves over to a whiteboard full of tally marks, then makes a mark on the side with the greater quantity.* Even reincarnated in the Light, some things never change.
Some good points for Alak-Hul's involvement would be providing Lucent support outside of the Sunken Pyramid, acting in a similar way to Fynch during Season of the Risen, make at least a cameo during the Season of Plunder, aid the Guardians to prevent Oryx's resurrection in Ghosts of the Deep, being a side character in Season of the Witch, and act as a fellow allied Lucent Guardian with Luzaku in the Pale Heart, maybe acting as a fellow commentator to the Warden AI in the Tomb of Elders.
The smallest guess I can make is Luz being the Guardian that Luzaku killed in the Lucent Tales lorebook.
Some things truly are constant. Again, nothing is set in stone just yet for either Alak-Hul or Luzaku.
Elthreee: Looks like we were both late reviewing each other's fics, though I'm way later lmao. But it's all good, we're still here amirite?
Chapter 30Glad to see Amity sorta getting the spotlight here. I am looking forward to seeing how you give characters other than Luz and Royal their time to shine. I also liked the fact that you didn't kill Alak-Hul, it didn't sit right with me that he was just working for Savathun, let alone guarding Oryx's temple. Though it's never really explained if he lost his memories or retained them after being revived.
Chapter 31Don't have much to say about this chapter other than it was fun to read. And I'm sure it's abscence was purposeful, but there was a Scorn bossfight in this mission I'm pretty sure, but I prefer this more streamlined version of the mission going straight to the Ahamkara illusion. Fuck that Scorn Raider bossfight and it's oneshotting, 8000 crossbow.
Better late than never, amirite?
I do feel that Amity's been floundering a bit in terms of focus, which is entirely my fault. The plot of Witch Queen has been very rapid fire go go go, so I look forward to being able to slow down and spread my focus a bit more once we hit Season 16. I especially cannot wait to turn my attention back to characters like Paladin, Venator, Willow, and Philip. Rest assured, big things coming in that regard.
I assure you, anything that does not survive the translation from campaign mission to story chapter was cut for a reason. This makes two Scorn crossbow bosses that have been left on the cutting room floor. The Ahamkara illusion was just such a stunning setpiece that the Scorn boss would've been nothing more than a forgettable obstacle.
BlueRoseLevi: Great chapter per usual, no glaze all doughnut
Liked the little point out of the broken mirror that trapped The Collector in the past during the Tablets of Ruin reflection.
As always like the boring fluff getting cut to keep things interesting.
The Ahamkara being hinted as Isles style illusion magic is a nice change for the adaptation.
Looking forward to the apothecary mission in 2 weeks, I'll be here waiting with my three glaives and a strawberry milkshake ever so anticipating the bi-weekly peak.
Damn, when will I get a donut without the glaze. I'm drowning in glaze here, man.
Yeah, fun little nod to put in. Just to be clear, Savathûn was not communing with the Collector this whole time, she just nicked it from the Trappers.
GodzillaMaster: Always enjoy how you manage to adapt these campaign levels into the story. Great job with that ahamkara illusion
Willow and Hunter are already together? Amity is right, that just isn't fair
My thanks. If I may stroke myself off for a moment, I think the scene introducing the Ahamkara may be the single best scene I've written for this story.
Also, sucks to be Amity. Next time, don't try to subvert the intention of a godlike entity from beyond the stars. Idiot.
I say all this like I'm not the one who wrote her.
Elisabeth let out a weary sigh as she lowered herself onto a chunk of rubble she was using as a makeshift bench. She was utterly exhausted, spent in ways she didn't know were possible. The weight of moons dragged her eyelids down, and she didn't even have eyelids anymore; she just had a thin sheet of metal that existed to replicate the function of blinking for all the good it did her. If she looked in a mirror and saw dark rings under her eyes, she wouldn't even be surprised at this point.
The last dozen loops had been stressful for her. Every little iota of progress she made to avert the dark future was outnumbered a thousandfold by her shortcomings. Not for the first time, she wondered why she, of all people, had seemingly been tasked with averting the apocalypse. After all, she had been doing such a bang-up job of it.
So, she decided she needed a loop or two to herself, solely so she could rest, regroup, and restrategize. Something of a mental health check. She had earned it, and it wasn't like anyone could stop her.
"It's just so frustrating," she said aloud, speaking to her imaginary audience. "Every time I think I'm getting close, something else pops up and throws all my plans out the window!" She rose from her seat and started pacing around the small, bombed-out bunker room. She began to count the latest set of obstacles on her fingers. "My sister is just determined to become a thrall of the Darkness, Eris won't stop turning into a Hive God no matter what I do, Savathûn is being herself, I still haven't figured out how to reach the Black Heart, that damned Cabal Leviathan ate the goddamn moon, Panoptes keeps popping up at the worst possible time, I'm still cursing out Clovis for inventing SIVA, the Fallen swarmed the Last City, Uldren is a massive fucking cunt, the Traveler had a hat once for some reason, and I've run out of fingers to count on, and I'm not even halfway through!"
She stopped pacing and looked over her hands again before turning to Royal. The Exo's body was slumped against the wall, resting atop the same pile of rubble that had been his grave a few minutes ago. He looked, quite frankly, absolutely horrible. His skin-steel was torn and shredded, his head was half caved in, and she hadn't been able to find his left arm in all the rubble.
"And then there's you," she said, pressing an accusing finger against his chest. "You killed me in the last loop. Do you have any idea how much that hurt? All because I had the audacity to ask you not to kill Ana. I don't know what was more painful; the fact that you stabbed me in the chest or the fact that that was the first time you ever actually penetrated me."
As if to rebuff her damning assertion, the bottom half of Royal's jaw fell off. It clattered to the ground as his corpse slumped to the side. Elisabeth watched with a guilty yet still angry expression before sighing.
"God, you're lucky you're cute." She glanced at a nonexistent watch on her wrist. "Well, hopefully, the next loop will be better. I just gotta keep trying; it'll all work out eventually." She drew a hand cannon and raised it to her head. The hammer clicked as she pulled it back into position.
"Wish me luck," she said to Royal. Obviously, he didn't respond, but it helped to think he was rooting for her.