Risen

Chapter Four: The Fallen

56th day of Baleence, 3 BJ (Before Judgment)

It has been a month since the beginning of Hearth's training with Desmond. The ominous presence had been growing steadily. Hearth just couldn't shake the feeling. The air had grown thick. Hearth was out shopping in the town with Crystal when a movement caught his eye. Hearth turned to look at what it was, but nothing was there. Hearth picked up on the sound of rustling to the bushes on his left. Hearth turned to look and spotted a tiny patch of red in a sea of green. Hearth was fixated on the red when it shifted. Hearth instantly shifted his weight to his right foot in preparation of an attack. A figure rose from where the patch of red was and the four armed, sword wielding, red cloaked alien launched itself at Hearth. Hearth forgot that he left his sword back home and he swung in an attempt to block the alien's attack. Wolf's Fang appeared in Hearth's hand and it sliced right through the alien's first two swords and made a ragged, shallow, cut through the alien's armor. Without thinking, Hearth shouted grizla and his blade ignited. The alien retreated two paces and hissed at Hearth's sword. Hearth lunged forward and swiftly cut through the alien without hassle. As the alien dropped to the rough dirt, a thousand more aliens appeared out of thin air. Hearth got ready for his toughest fight when a fiery wave blew past him and impacted one of the aliens square in the chest, vaporizing it. A two more came before a loud thunder boomed. A cloaked machine walked past Hearth while a foreign weapon the machine held spewed thunder. Two more people walked past Hearth whose weapons also spewed thunder. One of them was heavily clad and he had blue skin while the other was robed and she had brown skin. The aliens shifted their attention from Hearth to the newcomers. The voice that spoke one month ago spoke again. Pour all your energy into the flame of your blade and swing at the same time. Watch them burn! The voice was loud and persistent, and Hearth only gave in when he realized the three strangers desperately needed his help. Hearth followed the instructions exactly and dropped low to the ground before he swung. Hearth swung wide and a wave of fire rolled across the space and consumed the aliens in a matter of seconds. Hearth quickly surveyed the area then extinguished his blade. Everyone stared at Hearth with a slurry of awe and fear. The blue skinned man walked up to Hearth and addressed him. "So you're the source of all that Sol Light Cayde over there sensed," the man gestured at the machine behind him. "I'm Commander Zavala. And she is Ikora Rey. We are The Vanguard."

"I know what you're thinking, 'Why the hell is Zavala blue?' Well the answer to that is Zavala is an Awoken. Cayde, or Cayde-6 if you want to be long with it, is an Exo. Treat both of them like you would treat a human, okay?" Ikora explained.

"Ummm, okay.... What are you vanguards of?" Hearth was obviously at unease.

"We are the leaders of the Guardians, protectors of the Traveler," Zavala spoke with pride.

"I'm just going to assume that you don't know about the faction that calls themselves 'The Guardians' on the fact that you wield weapons never before seen."

"Oh? And who do these 'Guardians' claim to be?" Zavala was intrigued, but his eyes kept flicking to the top left of his sight.

"What do you keep looking at? I mean, you don't have to tell me, but your eyes keep flicking upwards."

"It's nothing important, but may you please answer my question?"

"Okay, so The Guardians is a form of rebellion, if you wish to call it that. They want to overthrow a tyrannical monarchy. But the catch is, they can't just sit still and out age this monarchy, the rulers here are immortal in time."

"So their legends?"

"No, they can't die of age. Instead, this revolution has to be violent. The king and queen have grown insane. They are Dragon Hearted who have demolished the old order. Dragon Hearted are mortals who have been bonded with a dragon. Or at least that's what the legends say."

"Ah, the reason that The Guardians aren't here is because they don't have enough men? Correct?"

"Yes and no. This valley contains little strategic advantage and The Guardians aren't well manned. Yet. I'm going to join them. The king's rule has gone on for too long now," Hearth's voice grew firm.

"Ah, but do you know where they are based? To volunteer, one must know where a base is," Zavala tutored.

"I know where they are located and I know it is a long and dangerous trek, but it's a risk I'm willing to take."

"Very well then. Take care to watch out for Fallen. Fallen are the monsters that attacked us. I bid you good luck," Zavala told Hearth.

"More specifically, the things that attacked us were Vandals from The House of Devils, but still, keep your eyes sharp and your blade sharper," Ikora expanded upon.

"Are you two done giving speeches? Because me and my furry friend here are itching to kill some baddies," Cayde whined while cradling a chicken.

"Are you joking?" Ikora was visibly irritated at Cayde.

"What? Cornel has proven to be extremely useful. Especially at distracting," Cayde said to Ikora. "Am I right, or am I right, Cornel? .... I'm right."

Hearth removed himself from the commotion and headed home. Crystal asked Hearth if he was serious about joining The Guardians, at which Hearth gave Crystal a stone cold look. Crystal backed off and Hearth changed into his Assassin's cloak and gathered his weapons. He knew he would need every edge he can get on this exposing journey. Today, I reveal my true identity. And they will give me space or else. The rebellion needs a spark to turn it into an inferno. And that spark is me. A Dragon Hearted with a duty to protect the natural balance of the world. A voice told me so in my waking dreams. She said that a god named Dianite has taken over the land and that the only way to restore peace was to dethrone Auron and Imperia Thornheart. I don't attack unless provoked. And I have been provoked. The voice said "Look for the one who goes by the name 'Captain Sparklez' and tell him 'Lady Ianite still breathes.' He will understand. Let me give you a relic that will point the way. To use such a powerful relic, one must not be holding any weapons, for it will taint the path. Yet one must have a weapon on their person, for this relic to correctly choose the right path. Go now, young Hero." The relic symbolizes harmony: the balance between life and death, between light and dark. I am the middle. I am the scale. I offer my sword in the name of justice. A rogue thought entered his mind. Hearth immediately recognised the pattern of the thought as Amethyst's. When did you make contact with this spirit, young one? Why didn't you tell me? Amethyst pressed. There was no need for you to know. But you do need to know we are leaving. Now. Hearth was filled with Determination to accomplish his two missions: The sending of that mysterious lady's message to "Captain Sparklez" and the overthrow of the king and queen restoring the balance. Very well young one, but you do know that this will reveal your true identity, correct?

No more secrets. We shall only attack when provoked, and we have been provoked Amethyst. They have woke the dragon. We shall let them know that their end is nigh. Hearth's will couldn't be shook. Amethyst realized that and aspired to Hearth's fearlessness. But she thought that Hearth was being reckless. After Hearth grabbed all of his gear, he pulled out the small, slender purple crystal that he received after his conversation with the lady. Hearth simply stared at it for a second before he wrapped it in his fist and stuffed it in one of his pockets. Hearth walked out of his childhood home and walked into the middle of town, not caring about if someone saw him. They are going to learn sooner or later. But right now, I must take my leave. In the middle of town, everyone was gathered around Amethyst in shock and awe. As they saw Hearth stride up, they made way for him due to his garments. No one wanted to mess with an Assassin. They all gasped in shock as Hearth stroked Amethyst then proceeded to climb onto the saddle rested upon her back. Without saying a word Hearth and Amethyst rose into the sky. But, where they were standing was a note. The note read: I have left for the Brock Mountains towards the south. I have two goals. I shall divulge one: I wish to join The Guardians and overthrow the monarchy. Follow me if you wish, but you must be fully devoted to the cause of restoring balance to the world. Keep your swords sharp, and your wits sharper. - Hearth Everlasting and Amethyst, Dragon Hearted. Hearth rode without looking back. He knew that he had to keep his eyes forwards in order to accomplish the goals destiny has laid out for him. The world was against him now. His only leed was The Guardians. I won't rest until I have reached The Guardians.