Hey, everybody. I'm here for your weekly fix. I'm not at home currently and my timezones are all skewed, so this feels weird for me. Ah well, semesters over, and I've got summer to look forward to. And now for today's chapter.
If you enjoy it, feel free to leave a review saying what you liked. If you hate it, feel free to leave a review casting POWER WORD SCRUNCH on me.
Chapter 16: The Ties That Bind
"How's your sister?" - Cayde-6 to Uldren Sov
Luz walked through the halls of the Awoken, the sound of her boots meeting the ground reverberating off the arches and statues. Light reflected off the crystalline structures, bouncing around the hallway in a dazzling display of color. If Luz hadn't been preoccupied, she might have taken a moment to appreciate the intricate details of Awoken architecture. However, she wasn't here to stop and bask in the beauty. She was here with a purpose.
The doors before her swung open as she reached them, giving way to Savathûn's chamber. The Hive God remained trapped in her cocoon—she was why Luz was here. Supposedly, the Witch Queen wished to speak with her specifically.
"I made it," Luz said. "Alone. Just as you requested. What do you want?"
"What do I want?" Savathûn asked, her voice sounding like the sweetest serenade. "What I want is what you want. And as of the moment, I am at your mercy. This construct protects me from those who wish me harm, from my worms hunger. But it is a prison, too. Quite elegant, don't you think? I have only one regret, and that is how long it took me to reveal myself to you." Luz gave a look of confusion, prompting Savathûn to chuckle. Despite the humor in her voice, the sound of it grated Luz's bones. She had no doubt that she was the punchline of a joke that had been years in the making.
"I see your synapses firing," Savathûn continued. "A specimen scarred by skepticism. They call me a liar. But we share a mutual interest, you and I. If you believe anything I tell you, believe in that. Now, let me show you a different interpretation of the truth."
Savathûn's shell pulsed with power, and Luz's mind was suddenly under assault. Her brain began to flash with images done in the style of blotches of ink. As the pictures flooded her mind, Luz heard Savathûn's voice intermingled with them.
"Who is Savathûn, you ask? You already know, o Guardian mine."
Six figures stood before the Traveler: Crow, Saint-14, Zavala, Ikora, a Titan Luz recognized as Lord Saladin, and Osiris. Between the folds of Osiris's head covering, Luz saw blank, lidless eyes that stared into eternity, unable to blink.
"I am your friend."
The image melted away as more psychic ink flooded Luz's mind. It was as though a great dam between herself and the Hive God had been sundered, and thoughts flowed between them as easily as the wind.
"I tried to protect you from the Black Fleet. You called it interference."
A massive Pyramid ship hung above a crater, dominating the landscape with its shadowy silhouette.
"Don't worry, I was not offended."
The Pyramid burst with energy, consuming the land around it and tearing it from existence.
"Instead, I found a form more pleasing to your eyes."
A swarm of moths converged into a being with Savathûn's shape. Nestled within her outline was the huddled form of Osiris, cradling a Lightless Ghost shell.
"Osiris was lost. Lightless. I saved him from Xivu Arath and assumed his shape so I could guide your victory against her."
Osiris's face morphed to one of surprise before his eyes widened in fear as more moths began to descend upon him. Luz writhed at the image; Savathûn practically taunted her with her own helplessness.
"I ferried the reborn prince to your city, so he could be redeemed."
Images of Osiris walking alongside Crow flashed through her mind. Through the pressure being forced upon her brain, she paused at the title Savathûn had used for Crow. Before she could inquire further, the image melted away once again.
"I protected Zavala from Caital's ambitions, ending a war before it could even begin."
Osiris stood beside Zavala, and the two were surrounded by Cabal that wore colors Luz did not recognize. A large female Cabal with prominent tusks and elaborate golden armor stood across from them, flanked by her honor guard.
"I delivered the House of Light on its knees to Ikora."
She witnessed Misraaks kneeling before the Warlock Vanguard, prostrating himself as a supplicant and beseeching her aid. The mere thought that Savathûn had orchestrated such an event nearly set her blood to boil; the two deserved to stand as equals.
"I unmasked the enemies lurking inside your city's walls and destroyed them."
Lakshmi stood before an active portal while a colossal Vex construct forced its way out. The machine spawn reached out to ensnare the Exo, dragging her away to her doom. And all the while, Savathûn watched through Osiris's eyes.
"You may disagree with my methods, but you can't argue with results."
Osiris stared into Luz's eyes, his features gaunt and skeletal. Despite everything, she couldn't force herself to break eye contact.
"I am no villain. And you are no hero. We are paracausal."
The final image met her. Osiris watched over the city as the Traveler was encircled by an impossibly large worm. The Dark wove around the Light, existing as perfect opposites, unable to overpower the other. One pushed, the other pulled. One rose, the other dove. One destroyed, the other birthed. It was a beautiful, flawless cycle.
Luz gasped as Savathûn's mental assault faded and collapsed to her hands and knees, panting heavily. A few drops of blood poured out of her eyes like macabre tears. Savathûn looked down upon her; her features may have been frozen by the crystal, but she seemed so inexorably smug.
"I hope that clarifies things," Savathûn said. Luz forced herself up, wobbling on her feet slightly.
"I thought you were powerless in there," she said through gritted teeth.
"Mostly, yes," Savathûn admitted. "What you have witnessed is all that I can muster of my strength, and even that is rapidly fading."
"Is that all you wanted? To subject me to that mental barrage?" Luz asked.
"I have already told you I want what all of you want," Savathûn replied coyly. "But if you were referring to yourself specifically, rest assured you already gave me what I desired long ago before you even knew my name."
"Enough with the riddles!" Luz snapped. Savathûn responded with silence, leaving the question unanswered. Her cocoon fell dormant as the Hive God refused to answer, leaving Luz to frown and pivot on her heels, musing over what she had seen. Luz was so deep in her internal dialogue that she didn't see Crow waiting for her as she passed through the portal connecting Savathûn's chamber to the H.E.L.M.
"I see you didn't get much in the way of answers," he said, startling Luz from her thoughts. She took a second to gather herself before nodding.
"All she did was leave me with more questions," Luz agreed. "She says a lot without saying much."
Crow hummed in agreement before absently whistling a tune that Luz recognized. He realized what he was doing and forced himself to stop. "Even after all this, I still can't get her wretched song out of my head."
"Lakshmi recited that song before her folly," Luz said. "Or something like it, anyway."
"I wish I could confront her about it," Crow said. "But the Vanguard doesn't want me to speak with her. Won't tell me why either." He looked away, clearly frustrated, though he tried not to show it.
"That doesn't seem fair," Luz said. "I suppose just give it some time. Just because they're older doesn't mean they're right. I managed to convince Royal to accept Stasis and stop antagonizing the Eliksni."
"I don't think he accepts those so much as he just doesn't abjectly hate them anymore," Aurora chimed in.
Crow weighed up her words before reluctantly nodding. "I suppose you're right. I'm sure they will explain once the situation stabilizes. It's just frustrating being treated like I'm a primed grenade. But it is nice getting perspective from someone around my 'age'." He frowned and continued with a bit of resentment. "Wish I could say the same about your friend."
"I'm sorry about Amity, you guys just got off on the wrong foot," Luz said. "I've talked to her about it, but I don't know how much impact it had on her."
"It's fine," Crow said dismissively. "Nothing I'm not used to." Upon seeing Luz's concerned expression, he elaborated. "Ever since I was raised, it's like I've had a target on my back. Before Iris found me, I was employed by an Eliksni crime boss in the Tangled Shore. Calls himself the Spider. He kept my loyalty by planting a bomb on Glint. And before that, I was just a wanderer. Never went to the city because every Guardian I met seemed to have it out for me. I got stuck back in the ground more times than I can count."
Luz was horrified despite Crow's relatively nonchalant attitude about the whole affair. Her brain struggled to process what she had just heard. The thought of Guardians turning on their own—punishing Crow for a crime he presumably committed in a past life—sickened her.
"Do you know why?" She managed to ask, fighting to keep the anger and sorrow out of her voice. Crow gave a casual shrug.
"It seemed like they all recognized me, but they were staring at another person's face. I learned to wear a mask in public real quick." Lus rested a hand on his shoulder and gave it a comforting squeeze.
"I'm sorry you had to go through that."
Crow managed a slight grin. "It's not all bad; I answer directly to the Vanguard now. Though part of that is probably so they can keep me on a metaphorical leash. Next time you're out in the field, try to have some fun for me."
"Yeah, I'll see what I can do," Luz said. Aurora gave her a ping, informing her that Ikora wished to debrief. Luz bid farewell to Crow and departed for the city. The flight back home was largely silent, though it was clear Aurora had something she wished to say. Luz gave her a side glance.
"Something on your mind?" She prodded. Aurora rustled her shell uncomfortably.
"I'm worried about Crow," she admitted. Luz nodded as she adjusted her course, flipping a few switches on her dashboard.
"I hear you there. I wish I could do more to help him out. If the Vanguard doesn't want him talking with Savathûn, he deserves to know why."
"No, that's the problem," Aurora said. She glanced around as though she was expecting someone to be listening in on their conversation. "I know why they're keeping him in the dark. I thought he looked familiar, but I didn't see it until now. He's Uldren Sov." The last part came out as a manic whisper.
"Sov?" Luz questioned. "As in, related to Queen Mara?"
"The former prince of the Reef," Aurora said. "He got tangled up in some nasty stuff a few years back. I don't know all the specifics, but he's why the Hunters have no Vanguard."
Luz's eyes widened as she heard that. Pieces were starting to click into place in her head. Yet, despite that, she felt a strange nagging feeling in the back of her mind.
"Why does that matter?" She asked. Aurora shifted, unsure of how to respond. "Why should he be judged for the things he did in another life? I thought those things didn't define us? The Traveler clearly chose him for a reason."
"I'm just worried about you," Aurora said. "He's been manipulated by Savathûn before; she could do so again."
"I'll keep an eye on him," Luz said. Aurora seemed to accept that as their ship reached the Tower. Luz transmitted her clearance codes and was cleared to dock in the hangar. Internally, she was fuming—not at Aurora specifically, but the sentiment her Ghost had raised. Everyone seemed so determined to convince her to embrace her past and who she used to be, irrespective of her opinions on the matter. But Crow was afforded no such courtesy. He was to be kept separate from his past. None of it was fair.
She pushed these thoughts out of her mind as she approached Ikora. Or rather, she tried to. They lingered at the base of her brain like an infectious pit, waiting for her to fall into its depths.
"Guardian," Ikora greeted, her hands tucked behind her back and her face composed. "I trust your talk with Savathûn was illuminating?"
"If by illuminating, you mean headache-inducing, yes," Luz responded. Ikora sighed and turned her face away to mask her shame.
"This is my fault. I invited her in. I convinced Zavala that we needed Osiris by our side. A dark pit looked back every time I met his eyes, and I told myself it was his grief."
"Savathûn deceived all of us," Luz said. "She definitely still is. The city was the last place Xivu Arath would suspect her to be hiding."
Ikora nodded in agreement, "And now Saint is tearing the system apart, searching for the real Osiris. Royal and Amity have their hands full with the situation with the Isles. That leaves you and Crow to take point with the Awoken. I don't like it, but he wants to help, and he's earned some trust."
"Not enough to confer with Savathûn on his own, apparently," Luz asked, propping one of her eyebrows up accusingly. Ikora frowned, and for a moment, Luz wondered if she had crossed a line. However, Ikora instead let out another sigh.
"Uldren made more than his fair share of mistakes during his life," she said. "He created the Scorn, was puppeteered by the last Ahamkara, and is part of the reason why Savathûn was able to curse the Dreaming City. The Awoken have no love for him, but Petra has agreed to keep his identity under wraps so long as he proves useful."
"You don't think he deserves to know?" Luz asked, a little less confident than before.
"I don't think he could handle knowing," Ikora countered calmly. "Many Guardians cannot. Crow is still young and has barely begun to figure out who he is. He is in a remarkably similar position to you." There was a knowing gleam in her eyes as she said that. Luz's own eyes widened a little.
"How do you-"
"Know about your special memoirs?" Ikora finished for her. "Very few things happen in this Tower without my knowledge. As I said with Crow, it is your decision. Just try to understand the situation we're in."
"Royal has told me that opportunity often lies in the midst of chaos," Luz said. "I'll take my chances."
"I'm sure you will," Ikora replied. "In the meantime, Crow will continue scouting for lost Techeuns. Guardian teams have been dispatched to protect the Blind Well. With any luck, this will all be over soon."
Luz gave a curt nod as she turned to leave. Ikora watched until she slipped around a corner. Despite that, she still felt as though a pair of eyes was tracking her.
"Yup, she's still scares me," Luz muttered as she made her way through the Tower. She felt uncertain, not knowing what choice to make. She wanted to help Crow, but how could she when the Vanguard had already made up their mind. As much as she didn't exactly like it, she did understand what Ikora meant; how would he react upon learning about his past?
Luz sighed in exhaustion and changed her course. Crow was still tracking down the Techeuns. Until she was needed, she wanted nothing to do with Savathûn's game. She made a beeline for the portal door; she needed some advice.
Royal parsed through a few missives, feeling his mechanical mind sparking in irritation. The forms were long, tedious, and undoubtedly some kind of bureaucratic revenge. He was starting to regret offering to help Paladin with the paperwork. Wherever she may be, Lydia was probably laughing at him. At least he had been granted a private room to work in peace, the only sound coming from the scratching of his pen on paper and the clock on the wall.
"Notification of alerts across the Isles, requests for supply manifestos, yearly budget allocation," Lancer listed, sorting through a handful of documents. "She's definitely trying to bury this place with paperwork. Here, look at this." He suspended a paper before Royal, and the Warlock accepted it. His optics darted across it, analyzing the form in a few seconds.
"The hell is a writ of purpose?" Royal asked. Lancer gave his best equivalent of a shrug.
"No clue, probably just some nonsense meant to waste time." Royal sighed and rubbed his forehead. If he wasn't regretting this already, he definitely was now. Fortunately, the Warlock was spared from the consequences of his actions by a short knock on the door. He gave permission to enter, and Luz obliged, stopping slightly as she looked at the mounting piles of paperwork on his desk. Stringbean, currently resting on her shoulder, gave a surprised hiss as she saw the stack of papers.
"And now you know how Zavala feels," she said. Royal gave a sharp laugh and shook his head.
"Times like this make me think that we should do away with guns and try burying our enemies in properly formatted requests for additional funding," he said. "We can show Xivu Arath the true lord of bloodshed; papercuts." Luz smiled at that as she took a seat. Royal cleared off his desk, more than willing to accept a distraction. "What's on your mind?"
"Am I that easy to read?" Luz asked. Royal gave her the deadest pan she had ever seen. She parsed her lips and nodded. "Alright, fair enough. I need some advice."
Royal's expression grew more serious; he was picking up on the gravity in Luz's voice. "Of course, whatever I can do to help you."
"It's about Crow," she began uncertainly.
"You're new Awoken friend?" Royal asked. "What about him?"
Luz released an unsteady breath, "He's Uldren Sov." Royal's optics narrowed, and, for a moment, Luz wondered if she had made a mistake. Lancer muttered a curse under his breath, contracting his shell angrily. "The Vanguard are keeping him on a tight leash. They don't trust him with his past."
"Uldren was a complicated man," Royal said. "I never met him myself, but I've read enough to piece him together. That kind of knowledge could be difficult for Crow to grapple with. I'm sure the Vanguard are just looking out for him." He held up a finger to cut off Luz's retort before it could begin. "However, I would be a hypocrite if I blindly accepted their ruling. Crow is, first and foremost, a Guardian. He deserves the same freedoms as the rest of us. Whether he learns of his past or remains blissfully ignorant, the choice should be his."
"What could I do to help him?" Luz asked.
Royal sighed. "I don't know. But I do know that you're not asking for his sake, not entirely. I know you, Luz. I can tell when something is bothering you. And you have not yet come to terms with your own past."
"Can you blame me?" Luz questioned, perhaps a tad more accusingly than she had intended. Pressure began to mount within her chest, the weight of everything that had happened bubbling up and threatening to burst. "Ever since I was reborn, I've been bombarded with people telling me they know who I am, who I'm supposed to be! It's like I'm supposed to just fall back into place and pick up where I died! What if I don't want to be that person?"
"As I said, the choice is yours to make." Royal stood up from his seat and walked around his desk until he was beside Luz. He knelt beside her and set a hand on her shoulder. "I never want you to feel that you are being forced one way or the other. Whatever decision you make, I will support it wholeheartedly."
Luz felt her eyes begin to mist and hastily moved to dry them. Royal gave her shoulder a comforting squeeze as she looked up. "Do you really mean all that?"
"Of course I do," Royal said. "I have fought in countless battles across my years. There's no other Guardian I want watching my back."
"Not even Paladin?" Luz asked, managing a small smile.
"Well, he's just another me, so he doesn't count." Luz laughed at that.
"Are you sure you're not another him?" She asked. Royal rolled his optics at that comment before looking at the clock on the wall.
"Oh shit, lost track of time," he said, pushing himself up. "It's good that you're here. Come with me."
"What's going on?" Luz asked, standing up from her chair as Royal threw a few of his things into transmat. He glanced at the clock again, confirming that he had read the correct time.
"Paladin got a message earlier this morning," Royal said. "Venator is almost home."
True to Royal's fears, the populace of Bonesborough was still in a frenzy from the recent broadcast. As he walked through the streets, it felt like all eyes were on him and Luz. Everywhere they went, Witches and Demons would stop what they were doing and point at the pair of Warlocks. Awed whispers were muttered between groups. A few began to crowd them, eventually growing into more and more people. A few reporters gathered around, taking as many pictures as possible.
Luz tried to roll with the crowd, offering smiles and waves. A few children would reach out to touch her robes or stop and ask for pictures. On the other hand, Royal seemed far more tense than usual. His movements were stiff, as though his joints were locked up. Truth be told, he would rather be literally anywhere else right now. Fortunately, he would be saved by a familiar onyx-clad Titan.
"Everyone, please, give them some room," Paladin called out as he jogged over. The crowd didn't disperse, but they relented a little bit. Paladin gently pushed his way through the crowd, offering a few words to some people as he pushed through.
"Sorry about all this," he muttered to his brother quietly enough that no one else could hear. "I realized that you might run into something like this. Play along." He grabbed one of Royal's wrists and held his arm in the air. "Everyone, the Hero of the Isles!" The crowd cheered, and Royal could swear he heard at least one woman ask him to sign her forehead, among other less savory things. Needless to say, the whole ordeal made him wish he could melt into atomic sludge.
Sensing his brother's discomfort, Paladin began pushing through the crowd. Most people parted, though a few had to be physically restrained by the arriving Sentries. Carolyn strode into the crowd, tapping her staff on the ground to draw their attention.
"Alright, people, clear out," she said. "Titan, it's like you all have never seen an Exo before." Slowly, the crowd began to disperse and allow the Guardians through. A few people trailed behind them as they walked toward the docks, mostly muttering amongst themselves.
"Again, sorry about all this," Paladin said as they walked. "We're finalizing our schedule for talks with the Vanguard. With luck, it should be soon. After that, I promise there will be no more parading you around."
"It's fine," Royal said. "I can handle a little discomfort. Though some of these people are damn near fanatical. Disconcerting doesn't even begin to describe it."
"This is nothing," Paladin said. "Remember when I mentioned quelling a religious schism? Let's just say that general Titan worship was only one side of the conflict." He shot a glance toward Luz.
"Please tell me they didn't," Royal pleaded. Paladin awkwardly nodded, prompting Royal to bury his face in his hands. "Traveler help me, they actually did."
"If it makes you feel better, most of the members of her cult were absolute nutjobs," Paladin said.
"No, surprisingly, that doesn't make me feel better." He took a moment to calm himself. "Alright, please never mention that to her under any circumstances."
"Well, Venator should be arriving soon," Paladin said, checking the clock on his HUD. "Probably within the next fifteen minutes or so. Haven't told her that you're back yet, so that should be fun." They reached the docks, where the roiling waves bashed against the shoreline. A few dockworkers milled about, tying knots and sanding planks. The aroma of sea salt filled the air. Amity was also there, watching a Sentry technician tinker with one of their Abomatons. She chimed in every now and then to offer her input. The technician seemed to accept it without complaint. After all, she helped design it.
The Sentinel looked up and saw their approach. Grinning, she offered a wave before beckoning for Luz to join her. Luz obliged with a small, goofy smile on her face.
"Here, look," Amity said, pointing at one of the weapons of the magical machine. "My patented spark thrower." She held up a slip of paper with a strange symbol scribbled on it. "It uses glyphs to generate an intense burst of flame." She tapped the paper, and it erupted into an inferno. "King's powers have really started to kick in; the strength of the glyphs has gone nuts." She pulled out a second copy of the glyph and offered it to Luz. She quickly saved the pattern to her armor's internal drives before tapping the glyph, producing a similar pillar of fire.
"And then there's the engine," Amity said, pointing to another part of the Abomaton. "I remember working on that with my dad." Her smile faded, and she pulled her hand back. "I miss him. And Ed and Em. Gus, Willow, Hunter. I wish I could see them again, just one more time."
Seeing Amity's mood plummet, Luz took her hand. Her fingers interlocked with Amity's. Amity was taken aback by the gesture, and her cheeks were quickly tinged pink. Luz gave a reassuring smile.
"You've still got me," Luz said. "I'm not going anywhere." She gave Amity's hand a comforting squeeze that the Witch returned. Perched atop their shoulders, Ghost and Stringbean shared a knowing look.
"Eyes up, people," Paladin called. He pointed to a small dot on the horizon. "There they are." Slowly, the dot expanded until it had transformed into a massive smoke-belching ship. The ocean-faring vessel cut through the water, sending massive sheets of sea spray into the air. As the vessel grew closer, a prominent silver figure with a long blue cape could be seen standing proudly on the bow. The ship gradually began to slow and pull into port. Once alongside the dock, the armored figure leaped into the air, flipped end-over-end, and landed on the pier. They rolled on impact, springing back to their feet and spreading their arms wide.
"Hello, Boiling Isles!" Venator announced. "Your favorite hero has returned!" Carolyn rolled her eyes and gave some mock applause while she leaned on her staff. A few of the dock workers and gathered civilians cheered. Some of them gathered around Venator, who gladly posed for photos.
"You weren't lying," Royal muttered to his brother. "Her ego is still very much intact."
"Indeed," Paladin said. "But she keeps it harmless enough. Let her have her fun." Venator finished up with her impromptu photoshoot and turned to face Paladin. She gave him a nod before freezing as her gaze shifted to Royal. Despite himself, he smirked a little under his helmet; he could practically hear the metaphorical and literal gears in her head turning.
"Hey, sis," he greeted. "What's up?" Venator stalked over to him and looked him up and down, almost as though she didn't believe he was there. Then, without warning, she punched him right in his helmet's face plate.
Royal let out a small gasp, more from shock than pain, as he recoiled backward. Luz and Amity both recoiled in surprise, their muscles reflexively tensing up. Royal tore off his helmet and glared at Venator.
"What the hell was that for?"
She shrugged. "Had to make sure you weren't an illusion."
"So your first thought was to sock me in the face?"
"Look at it like this," she began. "If you were an illusion, I would have just punched nothing. If you were real, I would get to punch you in the face." Royal rubbed his face, already beginning to calm down. Despite himself, he began to chuckle.
"Bloody hell, it's good to see you again."
Venator grinned, and the two's hands met as though they were about to arm wrestle. "Likewise, brother. Things have been far too predictable with just Paladin." Removing her helmet, she turned to Luz and Amity. "Now, who might your friends here be?"
Luz reached up and tugged off her helmet, letting her shoulder-length hair spill out. Amity joined her quickly, her pink hair tied back into a ponytail too long to reasonably fit within her helmet. Venators eyebrows rose in shock.
"What in the…" Her voice trailed off. "Luz? Amity?"
"Heya, Ven," Amity greeted. "You look like you've seen a ghost." Her Palisman purred in agreement. Venator grinned before pulling Amity into a headlock and rubbing the top of her head, ignoring Amity's protests and half-hearted attempt to break free.
"You little scamp, the spell actually worked. Good to have you back, memory and all." She relinquished her grip on Amity and turned to Luz. For a moment, Luz saw sorrow flash across her face. Venator quickly masked it and gave a few light punches to Luz's chest plate.
"Look who's back in the land of the living," she said. "Honestly, I never thought I'd see you again." She glanced at Royal and lowered her tone. "You keeping him out of trouble?"
"I'm trying, but trouble has a strange knack for finding us regardless," Luz replied. "I've heard a lot about you. Looking forward to seeing if you live up to it."
Venator puffed out her chest. "Please, I always exceed expectations.
"If you're finished saying hello, we have some urgent matters to discuss privately," Paladin said. "First things first, anything to report?"
"I didn't find anything worth worrying about," Venator said as the ship's crew began to unload their cargo. "Just some unusual tectonic movement. Though there was an odd vibe in the air. It felt familiar, but I couldn't place it. It's probably nothing, but better safe than sorry." Paladin nodded before turning to Carolyn and issuing a few orders. They would send more response teams to investigate over the next few months to be safe.
"There's something else to worry about," Royal said. Venator propped up an eyebrow and, after ensuring no one could hear them, Paladin continued. "Outcast has returned, and he knows about the Isles."
Venator narrowed her optics, and one of her hands slipped down to her knives. "You're certain?" Royal nodded, and she grinned confidently. "Let him try. The second he pokes his wretched little head out of the Vex Domain, we'll cut it clean from his neck."
"While I admire your confidence, it would be wise not to underestimate our wayward brother," Paladin said. "I've already increased surveillance of the Vex's usual entry points. Things have been oddly quiet on their front. I pray it is not an omen of ill portent, but time has taught me that true coincidences are rare." Royal voiced his agreement, which didn't appear to temper Venator's mood.
"Speaking of old faces you don't want to see," she said. "There's someone on the ship who would probably love to see you."
Royal was about to inquire about who she could mean, but the question would die in his throat as a miserable-looking Sentry stepped off the boat. His appearance was ragged, and it looked like he hadn't slept in a few days. However, he wasn't the important part. What was important was the small housing unit on his back. Royal felt his optic twitch as the familiar grating voice of Hooty reached his audio receptors. The deranged House Demon was busy chatting the poor Sentries ear off. Royal had no doubt that he was the source of their lack of sleep.
Royal turned to look at Venator, shaking his head in a silent plea. Venator nodded maliciously and, without breaking eye contact, called out to the tube-worm-bird-thing. The House Demon perked up and turned to look at the collection of Guardians. His eyes lit up the second he saw the amethyst-clad Warlock. Royal tried to save himself, but it was too late. The House Demon tore through the air with all the speed of a bullet and wrapped around Royal, constricting him tightly while Venator cracked up.
"Royal! I can't believe it's you!" Hooty shrieked, his voice sending an uncomfortable rumble down Royal's back. "It's been so long!" Royal struggled against the House Demon, only to find himself completely immobilized. Unfortunately, Hooty's grip only tightened when he noticed Luz. She had been nervously backing away. It didn't help as Hooty quickly snatched her up as well. His eyes were choked with tears as he embraced his 'friends'.
"Royal, what do we do?" Luz asked, desperately bucking against Hooty's grip. Royal simply resigned himself to his fate.
"Pray," was his only word of advice. It didn't take long for Hooty to notice Amity glaring at him. He coiled back nervously and relinquished his hold.
"Hello, Amity," he greeted, trying to avoid her gaze.
"Hooty," she said with a voice colder than Stasis as she helped Luz back to her feet. Paladin did the same with his brother as Venator managed to bring herself under control.
"Lieutenant, take him back to his perch, then we'll consider your punishment over," she said to the unfortunate soul carrying the House Demon on his back. The Witches face noticeably brightened, and he quickly sped off, Hooty blabbering nonsense in his ear the whole way.
"You saddle your troops with Hooty as a punishment?" Royal asked indignantly. "I think that qualifies as cruel and unusual."
"It has been an effective deterrent," Paladin said. We rarely have repeat offenders." He glanced back at the ship as the crew continued unloading. "It's best we let them do their work in peace. We can go over everything later." Royal concurred; he wanted to get out of the public eye anyway. Besides, it would be a good time for the three siblings and their two tagalongs to catch up.
"You know, with neither of you two being Hunters, I'm feeling a little outnumbered here," Venator said, looking through her cards. Amity grinned a little as she selected a few chips from her pile and put them in the center. Luz, for her part, was staring at her cards intently as she tried to weigh up her odds. Eventually, she checked.
"You scared of the big bad Titans?" Paladin joked, casting a quick glance at the pool in the center of the table. He doubled Amity's bet before reclining in his seat. Royal remained silent, electing to only meet the bet. The five were back at the Sentry's base of operations, enjoying a game of poker in the breakroom.
"Scared? No. But y'all tend to have all the subtlety of a Thresher," Venator said. "Warlocks ain't much better in that regard. You're all flash and light show."
"We are not," Luz said with mock indignation as another round of calling, checking, and raising went by. She turned up her nose. "Sometimes we're cracks of thunder and blasts of fire." Everyone finalized their hands and began revealing them, starting with Venator.
"Full House." She laid her cards out on the table. "Top that, Mrs. Thundercracker." She was silenced when Amity slammed her own hand down on the table.
"Four of a Kind," she boasted. "Read 'em and weep." Venator made a gesture like blowing a raspberry before turning to Luz, who sheepishly showed a handful of junk cards. Paladin grimaced, only able to muster a Flush. Amity grinned again and began scoping up the chips in the center of the table, only for Venator to stop her. She pointedly stared at Royal, who had been watching the entire time with silent bemusement. Slowly, he turned his hand around, revealing what else but a Royal Flush.
"I'll be taking those," he said, extending his hand to accept his winnings. Amity responded by throwing them at him. He responded with a laugh and spread his arms to accept the shower of plastic chips.
"He's got to be cheating," Paladin muttered. "There's no other explanation."
"He can't be," Venator said. "I can beat cheaters. I don't even know how he does it."
Paladin sighed. "Why do we still play with him?" He stood up from the table, shaking his head in annoyance. Venator joined him, lightly smacking the back of Royal's helmet.
"Come on, guys, you don't wanna go for another round?" Royal asked. "I'll let you swap out one of my cards." Amity flicked her last chip at him before following the other two. The small disc hit him right between his optics and bounced off. Royal laughed it all off and reclined in his chair.
"Don't suppose you want to play again?" He asked Luz. She smiled but shook her head.
"I still don't think I understand the rules all that well," she said. Royal scoffed.
"No apprentice of mine will have a poor grasp of Poker," he said, slamming a fist into the table definitively. "I shall teach, and you shall learn." He set to the critical task at hand, explaining the rules and intricacies of his favorite card game.
Elsewhere, Amity had caught up with the other Royals. The two were muttering about their brother, jokingly cursing his—and, by extension, their own—name. Amity reached over and tapped Paladin's shoulder.
"Hey, do you think you could help me with something?" She asked. "Been trying to hone my Light, but Arc just isn't clicking with me. That's your forte, so I figured I'd come to you."
Paladin grinned and puffed out his chest. "It would be my honor. It has been a very long time since I've instructed another Lightbearer. Reminds me of my time under Lord Shaxx; sometimes, he'd let me oversee Crucible matches in his stead." He looked into the distance wistfully before nodding in the direction of the exit. "Let's take this outside; less collateral that way."
Once they arrived, Paladin led her into the sparing ring. As he did, Veantor sat atop a stack of crates, somewhat interested in seeing what would happen. Paladin finished and gestured for Amity to step inside the ring.
"Strikers are among the most direct of all Titans," he said. "We specialize in getting closer to the enemy than anyone else. There's no problem that can't be solved through the simple application of our most powerful assets: our left and right hands." He emphasized his point by slamming his fists together. Lightning erupted from the point of impact, and thunder rolled across the field.
"I keep trying to coax it out, but it's just not listening to me," Amity said. Paladin shook his head.
"That's because it isn't something you can coax out," he said. "It must be dragged, kicking and screaming. Lightning will strike where it pleases. To direct it, you must provide a path of minimal resistance." He brought his fists up and gestured for her to strike him. She obliged and struck his guard. He absorbed the hit as though it was nothing.
"Come on, you can do better than that," he said. She hit him harder, only to be met with the same result. "Harder!" She tried once more, swinging hard enough to push him back a little. You call that a punch? We would've called that a gentle breeze back in the Dark Ages!"
Growing frustrated, she charged in with an incredibly telegraphed punch. Paladin smirked and caught it with one hand. He quickly twisted her arm behind her back, forcing her into an awkward half-crouch. Paladin pushed down, applying just enough pressure to forcefully dislocate her shoulder. Planting a boot on her rear, he shoved her away, much to Venators audible amusement.
"Come on, Blight, you're the first Witch-Guardian," Paladin mocked. "You're not exactly setting a good precedent." Baring her fangs in frustration at his insults and Venator's laughter, Amity put her shoulder back into place and charged. Paladin took all her blows on the chin, absorbing them easily. Eventually, one of his hands intercepted her fist, leaving her exposed. His free hand shot up faster than a bolt of lightning and struck her in the chin. Her head snapped backward with such speed that her neck snapped with an audible crack. Venator winced a little as the Witch keeled over.
"Don't you think you should go a little easier on her?" She asked. Paladin took a second to roll his shoulders as her Ghost patched her up.
"I am going easy on her," he said. "This is how Titans learn. I assume it's different for Hunters?"
"Usually, you get shot at until you learn how to dodge." Amity snapped back up, now freshly resurrected. Her anger had not diminished, and she once again glared at Paladin. However, now there was a spark in her eyes, a desire to inflict violence. Good, he could work with that.
"Come on, Mittens," he taunted. "Hit. Me." With a shout of rage, Amity complied.
As her fist made contact with Paladin's vambrace, arcs of electricity formed between the two. Static energy filled the air as the taste of copper flooded Amity's mouth. The iridescent blue glow of Arc Light erupted from Amity's hand. Energy coursed through every facet of her body. She struck again, her hands little more than a blur as lightning trailed behind them. Paladin blocked both with a soft grunt as he was slowly pushed back.
Amity tried to go in for one more strike, only for him to deflect it with his arm. He chopped her throat, forcing her to back off and gasp for air. She tried to resume her assault, only for Paladin to raise a hand.
"Hold. I believe you may have found it." Amity held her hands up to her face, watching the lightning ripple across her knuckles. She reared back and struck the ground. There was a thunderous boom that had no doubt woken someone up from their rest. She let out a laugh as bolts of energy coursed through her.
"Holy Titan, I got it."
"What can I say? I'm a good teacher," Paladin said. Venator rolled her eyes but couldn't mask the grin on her face. Amity tried a few more stances, punching and kicking with Arc-infused limbs while Paladin watched. He would occasionally chime in to offer some critique on her form.
"This is incredible," Amity said as she atomized a rock. "Feels good to finally get this down. Unlike some other things." She added that last part under her breath. Paladin raised an eyebrow.
"What do you mean?"
"My magic's been acting up," Amity said. "I can do all the basic stuff easily, but some more advanced techniques are just lost to me. I can't take the form of an Abomination or teleport like Darius showed me. It's… frustrating."
"Unfortunately, I can't help with that," Paladin said. "Even after all these centuries, the intricacies of magic still elude me."
"Maybe ask Carolyn," Venator suggested. "She's more of an Oracle, but she's no slouch when it comes to Abominations." Amity nodded and was about to say something before the sound of a twig snapping in the nearby treeline set them all on edge. The three Guardians were immediately at attention, blades drawn and fists ready. Despite all the years, the Isles were still a dangerous place.
"Come on, you gotta be quiet," a hushed, digitized voice said. "We gotta get back to the portal quietly."
"Would you get off my ass?" A female voice responded in a sharp whisper. "Ever since you raised me, it's been nothing but orders and lip."
"I'm sorry, I'm just trying to-"
"Whoever you are, identify yourself!" Paladin ordered. "Step out of the trees with your hands where I can see them, and don't try anything. There are three Guardians here."
The voices in the treeline fell silent, and there was no motion from the forest for a moment. Amity was just beginning to wonder if they would be revealed by choice or by force when the bushes rustled.
A short but muscular woman stepped out of the forest with a Ghost floating behind her. She crossed her arms over her chest, and a look of annoyance was prominently on her face. Her black hair was cropped short, and her dirty clothes were frayed at the ends. A pair of glasses with cracked lenses rested on the bridge of her nose. In the dim evening light, Amity could just make out the familiar shape of a cardinal tattoo.
"Willow?"
We are getting so close to Final Shape, it's absolutely insane. Wonder how many of y'all are planning on jumping ship? I'm probably gonna stick around because Traveler dammit this franchise is half the reason I found my love of writing and I'm not capable of letting go.
Elthreee: Glad to see ya back, I was starting to miss my weekly fix of this fic. I had a pleasent time reading this chapter. Also, Mtop eats the turrets in the boss arena for ZH if they're really annoying. Alsoalso I'm not sure if I asked before, but has it crossed your mind to do something along the lines of the raid or a dungeon for the fic? It's your story obvs but it would be very interesting to see I think.
And I'm glad to be back. I've got you guys addicted to my shitty fanfic. Good to know about Mountaintop, still farming a good roll for that one. And yes, I do intend to have raids and dungeons be a part of the story, though I'm not entirely certain how I'm going to do it. I have a general idea, but things are subject to change. The first one will be Grasp of Avarice because... you know... that's just where we're at in the timeline.
GuardianLightTheVanguard: Shoo womp do womp
1. You will where I feel it's welcome.
2. Yeah, I'm really happy with how that scene turned out. I can say nothing else.
3. And cue the maniacal laughter.
4. I promise that it has nothing to do with Outcast and the Vex. Absolutely, not at all, 100% guarantee. Trust me.
5. Yeah, I have. It's weird that Bungie isn't giving us the full glimpse of the exotics. Like, there's no way Microcosm just does bonus damage to shields. Maybe they want to preserve hype but, honestly, I think they're just damaging hype.
6. When the character that would come to be known as Carolyn was first conceived, she was a he named Amar. Still a descendant of Eda and he had the same personality. Over time, I changed him to a her and named her Carolyn to keep with the Clawthorne naming scheme: Evelyn, Gwendolyn, Edalyn, yada yada. Weird that Lilith is an outlier there.
7. You shall recieve.
8. I must refrain from commenting.
9. Same as above.
10. I was initially going to have a scene where they discussed that in this chapter, but I ended up scrapping it for pacing reasons. It will come up later.
11. No comment.
12. Oh Owlbert's around.
13. He'll still totally help Amity out if she needs it. It's just that she's able to figure a lot of this stuff out on her own and doesn't need his guidance as much.
davisjustus99: Let me guess either we see Eda or Mr. Genocidal maniac brought back. And to be honest I like the fact that they're finally in the public eye. Kinda gives them a chance to be seen as people.
Hmmmm... you're giving me ideas. That is a dangerous thing to give me.
Nergigante: I would love to see Amity and Luz meet the Parking Lot Prophet himself, Rylee Reloaded. Their reactions to insane ramblings and actions would be hilarious.
I actually did have a few ideas for ending bits featuring certain famous Destiny... Personalities? Creators? Idiots? If y'all are interested, I'd be happy to give it a crack. I remember talking with a friend, and I mentioned that the way I like to write Destiny is that the main characters are in the world of Destiny, and all the extras are playing Destiny the video game.
BlueRoseLevi: Couple things, love how Crow and Amity are just certified haters to one another. From our more in depth convos that end with the sneaky little ghost has me excited to see who gets ressed. And lastly, as a hunter main, I agree, our fashion sucks-especially those edgy boys with the dark shaders‐‐making Iris's drip was suck a pain to make look good.
Everyone was getting along a little too well. Need to throw a wrench in there. I'm looking forward to digging into their relationship a little more as time goes on.
hornig3: Well someone is getting revived soon, it's probably obvious on who but for all we know it could be a resurrection from a grave we haven't been to. Also sad we haven't seen any sign of hooty or his possible progeny. The guy's basically a parasite of the entire isles like a bird tapeworm. There's no way it's just him after thousands of years.
And that someone was Willow! I've seen y'all asking for Eda a lot, but I assure you, I have a plan and it has always been Willow. I really missed out on giving her some focus in Witches and Warlocks, and I want to rectify that here. As for Hooty... well, you got what you wished for. The monkeys paw has curled.
"So, kid, how's been a Guardian treating you?" Venator asked, leaning against a training post and flipping a knife. Luz opened her eyes and looked up from her meditation.
"You know, some good, some bad," she said. "Making friends, making enemies. The works."
"Ain't that the truth," Venator agreed. "Kinda surprised you've turned out so well. No offense to my brother, but he's not the most emotionally stable guy."
"He's getting better," Luz said, feeling the urge to stick up for her mentor. "Besides, you're not all that mature either. Royal's told me about everything that happened during the Isles, including your little personal drama." Venator gave Luz a deadpan stare.
"Are you really going there?" she asked. With a newfound confidence, Luz nodded.
"You better believe I will," she said, leaning further into her teasing tone. "I'd take my Royal over any other version any day." With a sigh, Venator sheathed her knife and began sauntering to Luz.
"Well, that's a great argument," she said. "There's just one small, teensy, itty-bitty detail you neglected." She leaned in close to Luz's ear and spoke in a whisper. "I fucked your mom."