Hello guardians, this is AnonPig of [url=https://www.bungie.net/en/Clan/Forum/806204]The Collective of Fanfiction[/url] and I'd like to take this moment to invite all writers and readers alike to join! This is a single part of a much larger story, [b]A New Dark Shines[/b], to read from the beginning of the beginning: [url=https://www.bungie.net/en/Forum/Post/99978879/0/0]Chapter 1; The Spine[/url] [b]The Bones Carry On Forever[/b] Arttu left the city behind. He was the cause of the wall falling, Ryluth had tricked him, and now was his time for revenge. Arttu felt horrible about leaving the city, but this was the only way to actually stop it. He made his way back to Venus, not even stopping at the enemies that ambushed him. All he cared about was killing that damned ahamkara. He came around a corner and a shock grenade landed on the nose of his sparrow. ///ZZZZAAAPPP\\\ Arttu leaped from the sparrow at just the right moment and rolled onto the ground. He jumped up and shot the dreg in its head, ether flew out of his neck. He turned... Everything was red. He was in a tunnel, on a hill facing downwards, red sand loose around his boots. ...He was on Mars? How did he get here, the memory of rage and determination to defeat Ryluth gone from him, why was he here? The newly implanted truths came to him, he was on a patrol mission for Cayde-6. He summoned his sparrow and returned to his mission. As he went he ran into a few legionaries, they were simple to defeat, but...There was ether? Coming from their necks as he shot of their heads? Everything changed, and Arttu felt dizzy, the burning reds and soft sand became vibrant blues and greens and hard soil, he was on Venus, fighting off Fallen. The sensation passed and reality set in again, Ryluth is playing with him, how could he ever beat such a beast? [quote] He's your student, but the ahamkara fall under warlock attention[/quote] what did that mean? He continued. Through the citadel and beyond, he came to a mountain, the place was familiar but the path to the top was forgotten. It was his spine that guided him up the first time, but why would it again? [quote]burn[/quote] how many times had his spine said that? Could it be bargained with? "Listen, I don't know if you can hear me, or if you ever even spoke, but I need you to guide me one more time. Once at the top I will burn Ryluth." A chill passed through him. [u]You wish to burn an ahamkara? You can't even defeat an ahamkara, oh bearer of mine. Only a warlock could, and you are only a Hunter.[/u] "But we wear bones as armour, I'm wearing you, some Hunter had to beat you." [u]Yes, a Hunter did best me, oh bearer of mine, but I was so young. And I haven't quite left have I?[/u] "Fine, but I have something that can beat him, and he knows it! Why else make me believe I was on Mars? Guide me up, and I will be the Hunter who burns an ahamkara." Arttu said confidently. There was no response, no chill, had he just imagine the entire conversation? No matter, he had a mission to finish, with or without help he would climb. Arttu came to a steep ledge, as he took a step he felt a chill and he pulled his leg back. After thinking he placed it closer to his other foot, he continued up the mountain certain the spine accepted the offer. The peak wasn't far, and the mouth of the cave could be seen, the face of the fake Speaker. He had to be strong, confident, he continued. [u]He eats reality as if it were flesh off an animal...[/u] The voice was unexpected, they came to face the cave, why did it choose to speak up now? [u]...He isn't scared of you, oh bearer of mine, he was just simply hungry.[/u] There was a rush of air, something soared into the sky, high...high above Arttu casting a shadow down on him. It was Ryluth, and this had been his plan all along. A torrent of flame came down at Arttu, followed by Ryluth, he dodged just in time to avoid use fire but not the claws. Ryluth grabbed Arttu and carried him high into the air. "Did you actually think you could beat me? Did you actually think those bones on your arm would help? Your city will fall and it's all because of you! You have fed me such delights, and now I am much stronger, now I feast on your city itself." The beast began to laugh. Arttu was thrown to ground, bones shattered, he stared up at the shape above him. He lifted his dragons breath, bracing it against the ground next to his throbbing skull. There was a glint in Ryluth's eyes, he inhaled, Arttu fired, the rocket shot straight into Ryluth's mouth. [i]In The city the guardians lay down their weapons, the wall was burnt but it didn't fall, there were no Fallen in streets, there was only death. Lives of civilians and guardians alike were lost here, but no one understood how it had happened.[/i] The blast of the rocket launcher going off against the ground beneath Arttu knocked him out. When he finally woke, his ghost hovering above his face, he saw dragons breath broken next to him and pieces of charred bone around him. [u]I'm impressed, oh bearer of mine, why don't you collect your rewards.[/u] He did. The ribs of the ahamkara and the skull were his by rights. Even then he didn't know why he wanted them so badly, perhaps to prove his feat to the vanguard, perhaps to show his forgiveness. But deeper Arttu knew. He knew what he wanted with those bones of his greatest foe, he wanted to build a cage, and one day he would. THANKYOU FOR JOINING ME ON THIS JOURNEY GUARDIANS![url=https://www.bungie.net/en/Forum/Post/100917123/0/0].[/url] This is your friendly neighborhood AnonPig reminding you to live beyond the story To continue the story: [url=https://www.bungie.net/en/Forum/Post/101106277/0/0]Lost in the Dark; Chapter 1: Could You Lend Me a Hand[/url]