Foxes of War

POV...Penny

“Alright people, we have this ship ready to fight those turtles!” Cayde-6 yelled out as Zavala shook his head. “Let’s show Gary we ain't just lying down!”

The hangar around us boomed with the cheers of lightless Guardians as Holiday gave a thumbs up for the Vanguard Spear being ready for its first fight. I merely tossed a minor exploding Fireball to make a Firework. Dunno Why, but I felt it was fitting.

“Alright Guardians, get on board your ships or the Vanguard Spear, we need to get moving in six hours!” Zavala told us. “The last three years have been up to this moment!” He yelled.

“Aye!” I yelled, twirling First Curse.

“For the Traveler!” Ikora cried out as the Guardians rushed to war.

“Yeah!!” I yelled, getting into Shadow Trespass.

POV...Marian

We found the entrance of the temple and I blinked at the size of the circle like a door. We walked up to it as Shade motioned for Victor to pull a lever.

“Hope This ain't a trap,” Victor said, Ace of Spades out as he pulled it.

“If it's for Todd, I doubt it,” I said as the door opened and we walked in.

“Celly said they respected Todd. What's to say it was to Keep Robbers out and whatever is inside, in?” he said.

“True.” I sighed as we walked in and I saw a statue of a Fox, clad in OG Doomguy gear, on a mound of dead Demons, and wielding a sword of some kind. He had a primitive revolver in his other hand as he aimed for something. At the base of the Statue was an altar to give tributes and a door behind it that was closed.

“Guess we need to leave Tribute?” Victor asked.

POV...Penny

I flew alongside the rest of my Wing, noting Zoey was flying beside me, in her own copy of my ship. “So, sneak in with Cayde and take out key targets?” I asked.

“Yes, Intel says some of the wolves are making more rune rituals in the outskirts. Zen-2 is taking care of them.” Zoey explained. “Cayde has us going for high ranking Legion officers in this depot.”

My map pinged as an old tower depot filled with Suros having a major store there. Mostly explosives. I grinned. “Blow their shit up?” I grinned.

“Yeah, though Zavala said Suros wouldn’t like it and we’d have to pay them back for the loss.” Cayde chuckled over my line. “But we have twenty known targets up there, all trying to report it for mines in the farms below. My Hawks were able to report that before they had to bail.”

“Well, we could loot the guns if they Still have em!” I grinned. “Always wanted a Suros Regime,” I mumbled.

“That’s true! I’m always game for more stuff!” He chuckled as said Tower came into view and the burning cityscape of the Guardian's home. Much of it was torn down by Gaul to make a fortress.

“For a bunch of Space warlords, they are shitty builders,” I remarked on the channel.

POV...Marian

“I have no idea what to put there.” I groaned, banging my head on the Altar as we all tried our weapons, hell Victor put a demon head on it. Don’t know where he got it from, and I probably don't want to know, but with them infesting the forest I could take a guess.

“What about this!” Shade said, putting down a bag of bits.

“Did it Work?” Victor asked as he peeked behind a Low Wall. Can't blame him. The Head exploded when he placed it.

A low rumble was heard as the door behind the Statue moved open and the gold bag disappeared. We blinked as we walked in and saw a labyrinth, most of the books and main scrolls, were on some form of fighting or another. A few were on magic, a lot of them really. But the huge number was on weapon arts. Shade jumped as a new book flashed onto one of the shelves.

“How big…” I stopped as my voice echoed. And it was not stopping.

“Massive,” Victor said, his voice echoing. “And with the shelves adding more and more as time goes On.”

“I...can’t…” I said as we reached a pedestal that showed a Magical projection of the temple. We had entered the Slayer’s Library, the next room under us was the Training Hall, below that Meditation Hall, and below that… “The Treasure World? Why does it say world?”

“Dimensional Pocket?” Victor suggested.

“Oh! Relaxation Room!” Shade said tapping the picture as we suddenly found ourselves in a spa/hotel. “Did the map teleport us?”

“I think it did,” I said looking around. “So this Temple is in another reality?”

“More than Likely,” Victor said, checking the place out.

“Hey, this one says Slayer’s Solitude. Want to look into it?” I asked Victor.

“Anyone else?” Victor asked.

“Unsure if we should separate.” Shade said as Silva nodded. I gave them reassuring smiles as I touched the picture and we found ourselves in a small room.

It was spartan like no one had lived in here. I looked around and saw no chairs, no bed, not even wood in the fireplace. Not even spiders webs. Victor looked at the walls before reading something written near the south wall.

“To the Great Slayer of the Doom Bringers, we hope our worship of you is not offensive and wish to give you a place you can rest as you walk the Umbral Plains.” He said, nodding grimly. “They worshipped him. To the point of giving him a realm to rest in… And it was One that lasted a minnellia.”

“Doesn’t even look like he’s ever stepped foot in here...does he even know of this? That people worship him?” I asked, looking around. “They didn’t furnish it for him, and there is no dust so, until us, no one's been here.”

“Maybe he never knew, or the last time he was here, it was So Long ago that Dust didn't remain,” Victor said. “And even then, there may have been cleaning runes,” he explained.

Then Daisy stood up from the Pedestal. “Huh, they really did build a temple in this realm. Most just worship his token.” She said, looking around.

Victor whirled around, pointing Ace of Spades at her. “What th-!?” he yelped. “A… Bunny Doom Marine?” he blinked. “Huh, is her Last name Hopps?”

“I’m a Night Sentinel.” She told him flatly. “And my name is Daisy.”

“I did say the name.” Victor shrugged. “And it sure explains the fancy armor compared to the Praetor suit.”

“Todd would not like that.” She chuckled at him. “That suit’s his baby.”

“Hey, I said, ‘fancy’, not that it was better.” Victor shrugged casually. “Sides, it still looks awesome.”

“Anyway, my last name is Gelander.” She told him as she looked around. “Still can’t believe people worship him. He doesn’t even know it, never even saw this place. And it was built before he met me, and that was 400,000 years ago.”

“What?!” I exclaimed at the number.

“Celly did make mention of his Sealing Long before the whole thing with Discord and Nightmare Moon,” Victor spoke up.

“That would be about ten thousand years ago. It’s his second sealing. The first happened after he thought I’d died and my treacherous father turned me into the Icon of Sin with a deal from a demon priest.” She explained. “In Truth, the Demon captured me, I escaped and ended up in another realm, unsure how to get back to Agent D’nur.”

“The Seal also brought it up. Took great satisfaction in kicking it.” Victor said.

“Wait, Todd has a Token? How old is it?” I asked.

“I don’t know. The Shotgun itself always reads as Forty Two thousand Years, but Todd is far older, and he made it so long ago he doesn’t even remember who he met to find out how to make one.” She explained. “He used his first Shotgun.”

“Strange. I found Blueprints for it. Combined it with mine.” Victor said.

“Let me see them?” She asked holding out her hands. Once Victor handed over the plans she chuckled. “This is his newest gun, not his first.”

“Ah. His first didn't have the meat hook?” Victor asked.

“No, it was a pump action Shotgun that is made from metal and wood and has the Logo UAC on the stock. It burnt, scratch, warped beyond what would be normal use. Has runic symbols on it to give it more power, and still fires, requiring no reload, and only needs you to have shells on you.” She explained.

“Cool,” Victor said. “Still, I need better parts. The meathook on my Tigris prime is wearing out a lot.”

“If you find Wracht,” She growled at the name, “you may be able to get what you need.” She told him.

“Who is he?” Victor asked. “I mean, there is clearly bad Blood between you.”

“A demon who betrayed his kind to help Todd. I just loathe what he is.” She told us.

“Something tells me you would hate my mate, Urara. She's half-demon.” Victor said.

“I might, Demons had raped my mother when I was three and the war with them began.” She explained.

“Wow, that’s…” I began.

“Fucked up, I know.” She said to me.

“What was her name? And… was she native here or some other World?” Victor asked her.

“Argent D’nur is another realm completely separate to this world of Vanhala.” She explained. “So no, she is not a Native of here. I’m not Native. And she was Duriala Gelander, died days later.”

“Sorry,” I said as Daisy walked around the room.

“Not your fault miss Marian.” She told me.

“Gods, I hope you had escaped,” Victor said, looking ill.

“Yes, I did. Todd showed up just moments later and killed a Baron that started attacking the hospital. He, with the Wraith’s powers empowering him, fought off countless hordes for hours. He pushed the demons back to nearly sealing the door before a Titan blocked his progress and kept the Door to our realm open. He snarled something about having closed countless other realms to Hell and that he was not being stopped here.” Daisy explained. “The Titan just chuckled as a new horde beat him back to a standstill. It has been shown that our realm was not only a prize for Hell, but a trap to kill Todd. It didn’t work of course, and for the years Father formed the Night Sentinels around Todd, he was wearing far different gear than the Praetor armor he has now.”

“Who was your Father, and is he dead?” Victor asked.

“I only call him the betrayer, and yes. Todd killed him just as he found out what happened.” Daisy explained.

“Good.” Victor said, fiddling with his Gun. “Wouldn't happen to hear of a Traveller, yes?” He asked Daisy.

POV...Penny

I growled as we got pinned by some of the turtles guarding the explosives. Zoey was firing her machine gun to its limits as heard Chatter from Zavala that they made it through the wall and were heading for Gaul's ship with Zen-2 reporting he finished his task. Antwon whined as he nursed a wound on his shoulder and tossed a grenade down the corridor.

“Fuck you guys!” Zoey yelled out as she fired. “They’re going to load these on the ships now! My Ghost just gave me the intel!”

Her ghost was currently the one keeping the door behind us closed.

“They’re going to bomb the streets!” Antwon yipped as he fired his hand cannon.

“Then they better hope they know Hot Potato!” I yelled, catching the Charges with Telekinesis and throwing them back!

“Shit, we really need to learn that.” Zoey’s Ghost said as the ships and bombs blew making the tower we were on tilt. “Shit, abort Tower, ABORT TOWER!” they yelled out as Zoey started jogging for the landing zone.

“Fuck!” I snarled as I raced for the LZ!

“One ship’s still leaving!” Antwon yelled, racing for it as he activated Golden Gun. Zoey yelled for him to leave it as we got to our ships. The Hunter ignored her and started firing on the ship as his ghost raced back to us to get in his ship as the boy jumped onto the escaping legion Bomber, still in Golden Gun.

I whined as I made to try and pull him out. I already lost enough friends, I was not losing more! I barely got him just as the ship blew up and we took off for the cityscape, seeing a whole chunk of the wall fell.

“Fuck, that’s going to take a lot to fix,” Zoey said as her ship sparked a bit. I nodded, idly loading the Suros Regime I had found when a crate was blown open during the chaos.

“I got that ship right?” Antwon asked as we saw the ship blow.

“Yeah, buddy, don’t go suicide on us again okay?” Zoey asked as I saw the light from Feria’s super as she tore through the Undead infesting one section of the City. She looked like a Mini traveler from up here.

“Got it.” he sighed.

“This is Zen-2, the Vanguard has made a breach to Gaul’s ship, but can’t make it further, I’m going to finish this!” Zen-2 yelled over the comms as the Vanguard Spear listed to the side, retreating from the battle. On that note, I saw what looked like two more armies marching onto the city, one with the banner of a dog, the other of a horse. “Requesting back-up!”

The two new armies battled a group of cultists as a huge rune around the city started filled with the combined blood of the battle. “I don’t like that,” Zoey said as Zen got some more Guardians to join him and fought with Gaul.

“What do you mean?” I asked her. “And what are those clowns doing here?”

“Looks like just two-platoon. Maybe they know the strange Cultist?” Antwon asked as Zen reported he’d killed Gaul.

“Really?” Zoey cheered before a huge glowing version of the Turtle came into being.

“What th-” I said before the traveller ignited behind ghaul.

“I…” Zoey said before the cage around the Traveler flared with light and broke! The wave of light obliterated Gaul before any more fighting happened. We all blinked, before cheering as the Traveler awoke and the Turtles started turning tail and run.

“YES!!!” I Cheered.

“This is a wonderful moment Guardians! The Traveler is awake!” Ikora yelled into the comms. It’s time to celebrate.”

“Uh, guys, what’s the Rune doing?” Antwon asked as the eye from horse craters on the moon turned red.

“What?” Zavala asked a portal opened over the traveler.

“Oh come the Fuck on, what now!?” I groaned.

Chains, made of black iron and glowing with green flames, came down and wrapped around the Traveler. The Guardians had their light back and were trying to stop this. The Traveler itself was powering against it and stopped itself from being pulled into this portal, but the only halfway. I fired off attacks on the chains, using Ice, Fire, Void, even throwing objects to break the chains!

There was a blast of energy from the portal, knocking our tech out and demons started pouring through from the portal. Fuck, Hell was trying to take the Traveler!

“Fuck!” I roared, grabbing a Large One with extensive Cybernetics with my telekinesis and throwing It at several others, throwing it at the chains in Hopes they break. No such luck, aside from an impressive sight of the demon bursting on One.

POV...Marian

“Not really,” Daisy said.

“Dang,” Victor said, before pulling a Large box the Size of a Steamer Trunk out of nowhere and sitting on it. “Shame. Would be nice to get This Opened.”

“Where did that come from?” I asked him.

“Found it under some Tree, within the roots. The Ace of Spade card marking feels kinda familiar.” He said.

“Might be able to open it myself,” Daisy said walking over and bringing out her crucible ax.

“Careful. The stuff inside maybe fragile.” Victor said. “Or at least, May not take a direct Hit from Hell weaponry.”

“Got it.” She said, taking the edge of her blade at the lock. “I’ve opened chests with this thing before. Marauder versions are hard to come by and kill. Like it that Hell just invades multiple version of worlds sometimes for all the loot and ammo they don’t use.”

“Kinda wasteful,” Victor said before the chest opened.

“It’s Hell.” She said with a deadpan. “Why should you care if they leave you ammo to kill them?” She asked.

“Ah,” Victor said, before I looking in, and blinking.

“What is that?” I asked as Victor pulled out a few wrapped packages.

“If my memory serves…” He said, unwrapping One and revealing it to be… An odd-looking component? “I found One of Cayde-6’s Secret Caches. Question is, is this normal, or was it misplaced?” He told us. “This is an upgrade part for Ace of Spades, my gun… And Cayde-6’s.”

“Maybe misplaced. I don’t know if this Cayde-6 is here.” Daisy said.

“I think he is. There are rising in this world.” I told them. “Though why would be this far south?”

“Who knows. In Destiny 2, Clyde's stashes were all over the friggin’ place.” Victor said.

“Wait you played two? How good was it?” I asked him.

“never played it.” He said. “And honestly, it looked decent, but I kept feeling it was a sting of sorts. It started bad, would have made a decent Movie, but a game…” He pulled a face. “Only thing good, was certain guns, and Cayde… Divines rest his wise-cracking soul.” he sighed sadly.

“Shit.” I sighed as Daisy rolled her eyes.

“You know that game is real here, and whatever spoilers you know can possibly be changed right?” She told him.

“Huh. Point taken… welp, just Gotta know if there is a Reef here… and a Prison of, Wait, Tartarus works.” Victor said. “Hey, a Trust Hand Cannon!” he said, unwrapping the next package to Find three Sci-fi looking Revolvers that made me think of those really old black powder revolvers, only glowing in three separate colors, One Orange, One purple and the last One, blue.

“So you like the gifts?” Daisy asked as she walked to the Pedestal.

“Yeah. Thanks, Miss. And… I hopefully can release Todd soon.” he said. “I mean, you must miss him.”

“Just over a year away,” I called out.

“We could get out of here,” Daisy told us.

“Alri- GAH!” Victor yelped, dropping the Three guns as he held his Head!

“Fucking great,” Daisy yelled. “Hell’s trying to take something. I’ll be seeing you.” She said, using her ax to open a portal and walked through.

“Did she just...open a portal to hell?” I asked as it closed.

“Yeah.” Victor groaned, massaging his Head. “Better grab the trunk,” he said, stowing it away as he picked up the three guns, the component and the last package he had dropped.

“Ready to leave? I don’t know what else we could do. And it’s not like we know where Hell is beach heading right now.” I said walking over to the Pedestal.

“Even if we do, we're too far away.” Victor sighed. “If it's the Traveler, unlikely as that may be, it's up North. Anywhere nearby, we aren't ready for Hell,” he said.

“True,” I said as I got us to the entrance of the Library. “Well, hopefully, Daisy can do something.”

“Yeah,” he said. “Then again, she has a lot of experience.”

“You going home?” I asked him.

“Urara is probably Worried sick,” he said. “Take care of yourself, Okay Honey?” He asked me.

POV...Penny

I sat on a ship with the Pony named Ironhide. Turns out Ironhide and Bloodhound Lucy had tried stopping the Ritual to hell, but the Cultist was armed with weapons from Fallen Guardians. Their troops fell into a trap the Cultist had set up for them and us. As soon as Hell poured through that tear...Bloodhound Lucy had set fire to The City, trying to slow the demons with the ruble while Ironhide did his best to stop her forces and get as many of the legion, Guardians and whatever Civilians they could out of the city.

The crazy bit? Some Guardians had agreed with Lucy’s actions and went with her to Burrow when she offered them a place. The Vanguard disapproved of the decision, but with how the Guardians always operated, they let those Guardians go.

Another group went with Ironhide’s forces for his actions on getting everyone to safety. I wasn’t really among that group, but I was asked by Cayde to look into the Equus Alliance. I felt little choice but to agree.

Losing the Traveller after we had worked So hard to free it was a hard pill to swallow.

As for the Vanguard, they moved back to orbit to the renamed Hearse Station, Orisirs 3, as Ikora had named the AI, was letting them use the Station as their new home base. Most Guardians were now split, but a good amount stay with the Vanguard at the Hearse Station.

I sighed, fiddling with my Gun.

“At least we still have the Light.” Zen-2 sighed, his ghost glowing. Funnily enough, that was the one good thing to come out of this. The Guardians, all of them, had their light back. The Traveler was not all gone but stuck between Worlds, but Demons controlled the territory around it and held it there.

“That's the only Silver lining,” I Grumbled. “We didn't just lose the Traveller, we lost the city too.”

“I know.” Zoey snarled. “But at least these guys didn’t burn it to the ground to stop the demons.”

“Well, I am giving the ones who left with the mutts a wedgie most brutal when I meet them again!” I growled. “Limey, Fucking pricks…”

“Yeah!” Antwon cheered as he ate the food. “I'm surprised some Ponies eat meat.” He commented looking over to a male soldier tearing into meat.

“Does he have canines?” I asked, seeing his sharpened teeth.

“I do. While we prefer plants, we can eat meat. Most soldiers do it because it give us better muscle growth.” He told us.

“Ah,” I said, before noticing a forlorn she-Bear sitting next to Lord Saladin. “Zoey? Is that…?”

“Lord Saladin. He came with us while Shaxx kept with the Vanguard.” She told me.

“Not him! The bear next to him! You know full well I met Saladin before!” I growled.

“Right. I don’t know, never seen her before.” Zoey told me.

“Which One was Ires?” I asked. I mean, I thought Zoey met her?

“Hmmm, oh crap, yeah, that’s Ires. Sorry, my mind's elsewhere.” She said with a blush. I nodded, before getting up and walking over to her.

“Lady Ires?” I asked her.

“Hmm, yes?” She said, snapping her head up to look at me. “Oh, you’re that one girl with the strange powers.”

“Yes. And… I wanted to do This.” I said, before hugging her.

“I...what for?” She said in shock, before hugging me back.

“I saw what happened, how you died.” I whispered, making her flinch.

“I...thanks for the hug.” She said with a crack in her voice. I nodded sadly.

“I am sorry if I bought up those horrid memories. I just wanted you to know I care.” I told her, breaking the Hug.

“Thank you.” She sniffled. “I’m happy to know that. Most let me know every day.”

Just as I finished, Alliance Soldiers walked into the Gallery in parade rest before Ironhide walked onto a stage near the front of the gallery. “Alright new comrades in arms! I’m the head of the northern operation for the Equus Alliance! I know you all want to get your Traveler back! But! You lot are not ready to fight Hell! We have intel and it was confirmed by the Vanguard that Hell Argent can kill you lot even with your Light!” He yelled out to us. “I have been ordered to train you in proper military tactics because, in my opinion, you all don’t know shit about true war! How the legion took your only city! And the suicidal tactics you use just because you have Ghosts! If you go against Hell’s armies now you. Will. Die! And there will be no coming back!”

I nodded grimly. I still didn't have a Ghost, but my Slug may actually give me a better chance by comparison, since I don't charge suicidally in.

“We fought off Oryx and the Black Garden before!” some idiot in the back yelled.

“And How close did your actions in BRINGING ORYX TO THIS SOLAR SYSTEM, brought us ALL to extinction?!” Ironhide snarled at the Guardian. “I understand the threats that you all have been fortunate enough to be able to fight for our world’s behalf! We can’t travel to space, but it was your actions that brought the dreadnaught here. I’m sure Princess Celestia was keeping Corta sleeping just well enough till you all poked your head into the moon.”

Kinda makes sense. I thought. Crota never directly got on Earth in my version of Destiny, and with the Elements of Harmony, it wouldn't be surprising if Sealing Nightmare Moon away, wouldn't have sealed Crota too.

“Well then, that clear. You all are reckless and haven’t learned that disturbing ancient evils might not be a great Idea. The Black Garden was not even a threat to our world, Only to you Guardians.” He snapped at us. “You all fight on your own, and you’ve all rushed into danger as you’ll never die! We can’t have that on the frontlines!”

“Don't forget how careless they were with their Ghosts.” I sighed. “I remember picking shards of Ghost out of my Fur because some idiots never thought to protect their One and only lifeline,” I grumbled, tapping my Head, and making a Ghost shard clatter to the floor. “Damn, No wonder my ear was itchy.”

“You lot hear that! That is the first thing we’re dealing with!” Ironhide snarled. “You lot will be a great asset once you’re trained but right now, you are all novices!”

“Ironhide, sir?” I asked. “Did Ikora give you data on a certain Slug?”

“Yes, Sister.” He said, using the title Sister, not just calling me the pronoun. “We know of it and of Rapture, Girls have gone missing.”

Then either Andrew has Run out of girls, or Sofia, or whatever counterpart of her, is running Rapture. I thought. “Any use you can Find from the Gene Tonics and Plasmids?” I asked.

“We’ve been looking into it, yes. Magical individuals do have some resistance to Plasmids and Tonics though, as we have learned.” He told me.

“Alright,” I said, sitting down. I idly noted Saladin was looking a bit smugly at a rather depressed-looking Shaax. Guess he was proven right about making the Guardians less reckless. Wait, Why is a rain cloud forming over Shaax?

“So with that cleared up, eat. You have three months of Boot Camp at Fort Handfell, in Yakistand. The Queen’s Council will be pleased to meet you.” He told us.

“Alright,” I said, idly noting my squad, or at least, the One I was hanging with, were the few not drooping their heads.

“Guess it’s about time.” Zen-2 sighed. He had always driven us like an actual military squad, the best he could at least. “So, we might be split up in the Coming months. It’s been good working with you guys.” he told us.

“Same,” I said.

“I may actually miss you asshats!” Zoey chuckled.

“I don’t really want to split up.” Antwon mewled.

“It may not happen my friend. But don’t expect not to.” Zen told him. “I’ll see if we can’t stick together in training.”

“Thanks.” The young hunter sighed.

“Eat up!” Zoey said dropping food in front of us.

“Thank God!” I huffed, eating mine, which was steak and some green plant like asparagus and mashed potatoes.