Through Time and Light [Cayde-6 Fanfiction]

Chapter 10 Echoes of Change

The silence in the Black Garden was deafening in the aftermath of the battle. The shattered remains of the crystal scattered across the ground, flickering weakly as the dark energy slowly dissolved. Liv stood at the center of it all, her hand cannon still raised, the Light within her dimming after the ferocity of the fight.

She took a deep breath, trying to steady herself. The dark figure was gone—at least for now—but his warning echoed in her mind: You cannot escape fate, Guardian.

Cayde stepped up beside her, holstering his Golden Gun as he surveyed the scene. “Well, that was... intense.” He turned to Liv, his usual carefree grin back in place, though there was a hint of something deeper behind his eyes. “You okay?”

Liv nodded, though her heart still felt heavy. “I think so. But I can’t shake what he said. What if... what if he’s right? What if I can’t save you?”

Cayde’s expression softened. He reached out and placed a hand on her shoulder, squeezing it gently. “Liv, we’ve been over this. You came here because The Travelor believes you can change things. And if there’s one thing I’ve learned from all my time as a Guardian, it’s that nothing is set in stone. Not even fate.”

His words warmed her, but the doubt lingered. She had seen the vision of his death so clearly, and now that they had destroyed the crystal, the Darkness would only push back harder. But Cayde’s confidence was unshakable, and that gave her strength.

“I hope you’re right,” she said softly.

Faelyn approached, his expression grim but satisfied. “The crystal is destroyed, and the Darkness’s grip on the Garden is weakening. We need to report back to the Vanguard.”

Liv nodded, but a part of her felt reluctant to leave. She had hoped for more answers—for a clear sign that she was on the right path to saving Cayde. But instead, the fight had only stirred more questions. What had they truly accomplished here? And what was the next step?

Back in the Tower, the fireteam stood before Ikora Rey and Commander Zavala in the Vanguard chamber. The weight of their journey to the Black Garden hung over them like a cloud. Liv found herself staring at the floor as Ikora spoke, recounting the mission’s events with clinical precision.

“The Darkness knew you were coming,” Ikora said, pacing slowly. “And it clearly knew of Liv’s intentions to change the future.”

Zavala crossed his arms, his face unreadable. “This confirms what we feared. The Darkness is aware of her, and it’s using her presence here to destabilize the timeline.”

Liv’s heart sank at his words. She had come here to save Cayde, but now it seemed her very presence was putting him—and everyone else—in greater danger.

“I didn’t mean to make things worse,” Liv said quietly, her voice barely audible.

Zavala’s stern gaze softened slightly. “No one is blaming you, Guardian. But we must tread carefully. The Darkness is cunning, and it’s using time as a weapon against us.”

Ikora stepped forward, her expression thoughtful. “There is still hope. You’ve disrupted the Darkness’s plans by destroying the crystal in the Black Garden. It’s a small victory, but an important one.”

Cayde leaned against the wall, arms crossed, his usual smirk replaced by a more serious look. “So what’s the next move?”

Ikora exchanged a glance with Zavala before turning back to the fireteam. “We’ve been researching anomalies in the timeline—places where the flow of time is distorted or where the Darkness has left a mark. There’s one location that stands out: Mercury. The Vex have long been experimenting with time, and we believe there may be something there that can help us understand how to break the cycle.”

Liv’s heart skipped a beat at the mention of Mercury. The Vex were a mysterious and dangerous force, and if time was their playground, it made sense that answers might be found there. But it also meant stepping into an even more uncertain future.

“I’ll go,” Liv said without hesitation. “Whatever it takes to stop this.”

Ikora nodded. “We’ll prepare a team. Be ready.”

After the debriefing, Liv found herself wandering the halls of the Tower, her mind swirling with everything that had happened. She needed a moment alone to think, to process the weight of the mission ahead. But just as she stepped out onto the balcony overlooking the City, she heard footsteps behind her.

“Hey,” Cayde’s voice called out softly.

Liv turned to find him leaning against the doorway, his usual casual demeanor still present but tempered with a seriousness she hadn’t seen often.

“Figured you might need some company,” he said, joining her by the railing.

Liv smiled slightly, though her heart was heavy. “It feels like every step we take, the Darkness is still ahead of us. No matter what I do, I can’t shake this feeling that I’m not strong enough to stop it.”

Cayde chuckled lightly. “You kidding? Liv, you’re one of the strongest Guardians I’ve met. You’ve been thrown into a future you don’t know, fighting battles you never expected, and yet you’re still here, standing tall.”

He turned to face her fully, his eyes locking onto hers. “You’ve got guts, Liv. And whether or not we can change what’s coming, I know you’re gonna fight like hell to try.”

Liv’s heart fluttered at his words, the warmth of his confidence lifting some of the weight off her shoulders. She had come to care for Cayde more than she had anticipated—his humor, his bravery, the way he always seemed to make light of even the darkest situations. But behind all that, she knew he was someone who carried his own burdens too.

“I just don’t want to lose you,” she said, her voice barely above a whisper.

Cayde’s expression softened, and for a moment, the playful mask he usually wore slipped away, revealing a deeper, more vulnerable side of him. “Liv... whatever happens, I’m glad you’re here. I mean that.”

The silence that followed was thick with unspoken words. Liv felt a tension between them—an understanding that they were both walking a path where nothing was certain, where every step could lead to danger. But standing here, with Cayde at her side, she felt a flicker of hope.

“I’m glad too,” she said softly.

Cayde gave her one of his signature grins, though it was gentler than usual. “Well, no more sappy stuff. We’ve got a mission to plan. Gotta make sure you’re ready to take on the Vex.”

Liv chuckled, the tension easing slightly. “I’ll be ready. As long as you are.”

“Always,” Cayde said, winking as he turned and walked back inside.