I do not own Destiny.

It had been months since the fall of the red legion and the awakening of the traveler. Ashura sighed as she looked out over the ledge of the new area of the tower they resided in. The hustle and bustle of the streets down below made her smile softly. Most had wondered where the Lucky seven were in all of the mess of the red war. Well... they had come as soon as they heard what had happened. It feels like it has been so long since then. It really had been though. She looked down to her side to see a small Noah standing there beside her. His young, yet intelligent eyes scoured the city below. "Mama." He called out and she crouched next to him. "Yes dear?" She asked and he smiled at her softly.

He pointed to the sky and she looked up to see the traveler overhead, much closer than it had previously been. "The traveler, I see sweetie." He was three now and it felt like he shouldn't be. Her soul hurt at the thought. It had been a little over a year and a half since the red war. Ashura had taken some time away from being a guardian to mourn the loss of Uldren, and to spend more time with their son. In this time the Lucky seven had dealt with Osiris and his issues so that she could take a break. She was finally able to stop to take a breath and deal with everything. Somewhere deep down she couldn't believe that Uldren were truly gone, but she will never forget the looks on Loki and Lions faces when they approached her to tell her what had happened.

She had almost broke down crying the moment she saw them. Loki and Lion were alive. She rushed to give them a hug and Loki hugged her tighter than he ever had before. "I was so worried about you." He managed and she began sobbing. "I was so scared... And now I can't find Uldren..." She sobbed and Loki had looked at her sadly.

She would never forget how her body went cold and she felt it through her whole being.

"Ashura... Lion and I..." "We had to put him down..." Lion said and Ashura released an agonized scream. She couldn't believe them, she couldn't feel his presence... but she refused to believe that he was gone. "I'm so sorry, Ashura." Loki whispered softly.

She had searched for months, using his blade to try and find him, but there was no sign of him. Not even Mara knew where he was anymore. She picked up her son and held him close, the only remnant she had of her love was their son and she was going to protect him with everything she had. She heard footsteps behind her and she turned to face the one who approached her. "Zavala," she greeted kindly. "Ashura, how are you?" He asked and she offered no words only a small smile. She glanced across the way at the small woman attempting to talk to Shaxx and smiled a little wider. "I am well, how is Nina?" She asked and a slight tint coated his cheeks and he rubbed his neck awkwardly. "I see you decided to give it a go. Doing well I assume?" She asked and he nodded, a small smile gracing his lips now as well.

'Good.' Ashura thought as she looked back over to the young hunter fumbling over her words. "What an odd girl." Ashura sighed and Zavala chuckled. "I see you haven't heard about that then. He saved her during the red war and she had been his shadow ever since." Zavala said and Ashura smirked. "He always does make amazing grand gestures." She said and he nodded. "Ashura... We have intercepted some distress calls from a friend of mine on mars." He said and she looked at him oddly. "Yes, before you say it... I do have friends." He sighed and she smirked. "So whats going on then?" She asked and he crossed his arms over his chest.

"It's Ana Bray."

That was all he had to say to her and he knew she was going to be in on whatever was needed. "Go see her. Sasuke and Hinata are already handling some things for her, but I figured you could take Misra and you could both get some answers." He said and she nodded. "Thank you." "I know how much this means to you, so I thought I would give you the go ahead to deal with this as you see fit." He said and she nodded. "Do you mind watching Noah?" She asked and he reached to take the young child from her grasp. She took off towards she ship bay and he chuckled softly as he ruffled the white hair atop the childs head.

"How about we go see Ni-Ni?" he asked and the young boy's face lit up.

:-:-:-:

Loki ran his hands through his hair and sighed deeply. It was coming up on two years now... two years since he had done what he had to his own sister. Lion eyed him from across the room and he turned away from him. He didn't want to look at him right now. Dread consumed him and he couldn't help it. Cayde rounded the corner and the Exo seemed to share the guilt the warlock did. "You know you had to do it." He sighed and Loki flopped into a seat. "I still feel guilty for it though." Loki sighed and Cayde-6 nodded. "And you always will but it was best for the both of them. You see that Ashura is becoming someone she never was before. She is doing better." He said and Loki nodded silently.

"I know... I just wanted to not have to lie to her anymore." He said and Cayde nodded. "I wouldn't want to have to lie to her either. But until he is better we cant set him free. And she doesn't need to see him like that. He told you that he wanted to do it." Cayde said and loki fisted his hands. "Only because he thought they were dead. How is that fair? When he comes out of there and realizes they aren't dead he is going to hate us all." Loki said and Cayde-6 shrugged. "Then let him." Is all he said. Loki looked over at Lion who offered nothing to their conversation.

"Loki, I think you should be more concerned with the strength Ashura is manifesting. She is becoming quite strong. Using abilities others have never seen." Cayde offered and Loki nodded. "The hammer for one. That one is terrifying in all honesty. Who thought she would ever swing something bigger than her around like that." He chuckled softly and Cayde-6 nodded in agreement. "And what about Misra?" Cayde offered and Loki shook his head. "We are all developing abilities we never thought possible. She can use titan abilities as a hunter which blew everything we thought we knew about her out of the water. We never realized she was a strange one." He said and Lion nodded.

"So that completely kills the theory everyone had about Ashura's exo leg making her a strange one. Could it be that the reason she is one because Kira was a titan?" Lion offered and Cayde opened his mouth to speak but nothing came out. "You know... you're on to something there. That could be. Ashura and Kira were identical twins, so what is to say that's not what t actually was. They shared DNA so its entirely plausible." He said and Loki nodded. "But what about Misra?" Loki asked and Lion furrowed his brows. "That is beyond me honestly."

"Hey!!!"

"Oh party's over run guys!" Cayde yelped and the three of them took off from where Holliday was launching tools at them. "My work space is not a hangout!!!" She snarled and lobbed a wrench at Cayde-6 as he ran but it hit him in the center of his back. He fell to the ground dramatically and reached a hand out to them. "Leave me! Save yourselves!" he called out and they took off once more. Holliday stepped over to him and looked down at him with her hands on her hips. "If you aren't going to help me stay off my ships. I cant work with you three babbling like old gossiping women." She sighed and he chuckled up at her from the floor. She shook her head and helped him up. "Now git." She shooed him away and he chuckled once more as he made his way out of the loading bay.

"You'll miss me when I'm gone!" he called out to her and she smiled and offered a backhanded wave.

"Yeah yeah... we know you're never going anywhere."

:-:-:-:

Ashura and Misra were excited and couldn't contain their chatter as they strolled up the steps of the Clovis Bray facility. They made their way up to the woman atop the stairs fiddling with a computer. She held up a hand to them before they could even say anything. "You're a little late. I have someone doing everything I need already." She said as she continued to type. "We aren't here for that. We are here for this." Ashura said as she placed the Keycard on the desk in front of Ana. Ana stopped typing and looked at the card. "I see..." She muttered and stood to face the two of them. "And you are here to figure out who you really are?" She asked as she pointed at Misra.

"Yeah." Misra said and Ashura offered a small smile. "You know you may not like everything you find there..." She said and Ashura nodded. "I worked here. I want to know about myself." Ashura said and Ana nodded. "Ok ten. Since they've got the terminals up and running get over here." Ana said and they came around the computer. "Go ahead and see what you can find." Ana said as she pulled up the employee log. Ashura scanned the code on her badge and a list of names appeared. A certain name caught her eye and she looked to click on it but Ana stopped her. "Look, I know you're one of Cayde's but I cant let you go snooping in his private files." She said and Ashura repressed the slight irritation.

"Then tell me this... Why is he an Exo?" She asked and Ana shook her head. "Can't tell you that. Ask him or find out on your own kid." She said and Ashura sighed. "Fine." She muttered only to go into her own files. She looked through the data she had entered and began reading files about her assignments. They were all typical medical assessments or so she thought. She delved further to find that everyone she had done the assessments on had become Exo. Ashura stopped and took a breath. She did this to them. She began looking through pictures of each of her patients and her eyes went wide. She pulled up one picture and her heart felt like it was going to stop.

'Debt paid in full.'

She had done this...

"I told you there were things you wouldn't wanna find out..." Ana said softly offering a sad smile. "I did this to Cayde." She whispered and Ana shook her head. "He did this for his family. You were just the one to deliver the answer to his problem." Ana said and Ashura sighed. "True..." A soft smile crossed her lips then. "I wonder if that's why Zavala and Ikora wont let him out of the tower now." She laughed lightly.

"Honestly, I wouldn't doubt it. Cayde is a very expensive problem maker." Ana chuckled in amusement. Ashura continued going through her files and saw her sisters name at the bottom of the list. "Ana. I want to look at my sisters files." She said and Ana nodded. "I see no issue with that." She said so Ashura began searching through Kira's files. Her brow furrowed as she read through a passage but then her face broke out into a huge smile. She began pointing at the screen excitedly. "She uploaded her consciousness before we went into the vault! I can bring her back!" She exclaimed excitedly as she turned to Misra.

"You get to meet my sister!" Ashura exclaimed joyously and Misra hugged her tightly. "I can't wait!" Misra chirped and they began searching for the location of Clovis Bray that contained Kira's upload files. "Ashura..." "No." "Ashura..." She didn't want to hear anything at all right now. She words on the screen stung at her soul. She could have endured it if it had said her upload was corrupted... but this... this was much worse.

'Consciousness downloaded successfully.'

That message burned at her. The date of download wasn't long after she had initially been lost. That wasn't the worst of it either. The username of the one who had downloaded her infuriated her to no end. "I think I need to talk to Cayde." She muttered and Misra grabbed her arm softly. "Misra now is not the time to stop me." Ashura sighed as she shrugged out of Misra's grasp. "Ashura..." Ana called and Ashura turned around. "I know where her consciousness was downloaded." She said and Ashura returned to the computer. "Misra..." "Yes?" "That looks like you." Ashura said softly and Misra nodded.

"Yeah... yeah it does." She muttered softly. Ashura watched her with calculative eyes. "Do you want me to search my memory banks for her?" Misra asked, but Ashura offered no response. "Ana I think we are done here." Ashura whispered as she logged off the computer. "If you need anything else let me know." Ana said as the two turned to walk away. Ashura couldn't comprehend what she had found out. It was so much information for one lifetime... much less one day. She sat on the steps leading out of the building and Misra plopped down beside her. "Ashura..." Misra started but Ashura shook her head.

"No." she said softly and offered Misra a hand. "I do not want you to replace who you are with the memories of my sister. I couldn't ask that of you." Ashura said and Misra kicked dust up on the ground in front of her. "It's a new start." Ashura said as she looked up to the sky. "You are my sister and no memories will ever change that. I love you just the way you are." She said and Misra just continued to stare at her. "Are you sure?" Misra asked and Ashura burst out laughing. "Of course I am! I just feel so dumb for not realizing it sooner!" Ashura laughed whole heartedly. Misra continued her staring.

"Elkin!" Ashura called out and the ghost watched her in silence. "I think I know who you are as well. I'm willing to bet my life that you're her husband, are you not?" Ashura asked with a small smirk and Elkin only said, "No comment." Ashura stood up and hugged Misra tightly. "You were already my sister, whether you had her memories or not, do you understand that? You're my best friend." She said shaking Misra's face between her hands softly. Misra grabbed Ashura up tightly to hug her, then set her down. "Thank you, Ashura." Misra said softly and Ashura shook her head. "No, thank you for being there for me. I needed you." Ashura said as she motioned for Misra to follow her.

"You'll let me know if you ever remember anything right?" Ashura asked and Misra nodded rapidly as they made their way back to the ship. "So, tell me something," Ashura began turning to face Misra fully once more. "How long after the vault did you boot up?" She asked and Misra scratched her head. "Uhhh... Honsetly... Probably not long after. I've been here almost... four maybe five years? I cant really remember." Misra mused and Ashura nodded. "Oh Cayde... we are going to have such a long chat." Ashura mused lightly.

:-:-:

Cayde felt the urge to sneeze, but as he had no true respiratory system it wasn't possible. "I get the feeling someone is talking about me." He muttered to himself only to hear Zavala clear his throat. "Incoming." Was all he said before he was tackled to the floor. "I could whoop your ass!" Ashura's voice came from the one who tackled him to the floor. "What did I do now..." he whined and Ashura hugged him tightly. He was so confused as she started to sob uncontrollably. He sat them up and pulled her into his lap to hug her to him tightly as she cried. "Ashura... are you alright?" He whispered into her hair.

"No... But I will be." She managed through her sobs. He patted her on the head gently and sighed softly. "What did I do this time?" He asked softly and she looked up at him. "You tried to give me my sister back... you did everything you could and I'm so grateful to you." She said and he watched her cautiously. "So Misra knows?" he asked and she nodded. "I screwed it up... I made a mistake and downloaded her to an Exo that had already had someone partially downloaded to it... I'm sorry." He sighed and she looked at him oddly. "You gave me my best friend. Don't apologize." She said and he chuckled softly.

"Ashura... can I ask you something?" He asked and she looked up at him from his embrace. He loved her so much. So very much she never could understand. "You can feed me if you wanna talk to me." She said and he repressed a chuckle. Yup... still same old Ashura. He stood and pulled her to her feet. "Let's get some food then." He said and offered her a hand to help her up. When she touched his hand it felt like a rush went through his entire system. "Cayde?" Her voice snapped him out of his trance and she looked at her oddly. "You know... you always do that." She sighed and he was so grateful he couldn't blush. "Do what?" he asked and she offered a small, amused smile.

"You seem to malfunction whenever you touch my hand." She said that like it was no big deal and he could hear the ticking of his heart screaming in his ears. "And that." She laughed lightly as she turned around to face him fully. She reached up and gently adjusted the strap of his armor across his chest ever so slightly. "Why is that?" she asked as she reached for his hand once more. He couldn't contain his panic as her fingertips brushed over his hand.

"I love you."

He blurted it out before he could stop himself and immediate slumped his head and shoulders. "Fuck." He muttered coarsely. He looked up slightly to search for any reaction, but she gave none, nor did her fingertips leave his hand. "Ashura... I'm sorry-" he began but she shook her head. "Cayde... don't ever apologize for loving someone. You know me better than anyone here. So... trust me. I understand. I've known that you loved me for so long." She whispered and he frowned. He could sense that the statement wasn't done. "But you don't know if you could love an Exo..." He finished the sentence for her, or so he thought.

"NO!" she snapped and he was caught off guard by that. "It's just..." She sighed and he listened intently. She fiddled with her fingers gently then looked up to him, but before she could say anything he closed the distance between them. Her eyes were wide and he released her cheeks and stepped back from her. "I'm sorry... I don't know what came over me." He muttered. He was so damn embarrassed that he had done that. He couldn't even look at her. "Ashura I'm so sorry." He said and she grabbed him by the sleeve. "Cayde... Just listen to me..." she managed and he turned to look at her.

"I... I wanted so badly to try and see how a relationship with you would work... it's just..." She sighed and he knew what was coming. "It's Uldren isn't it?" He asked and she nodded. "I'm the one who is sorry Cayde." She whispered and he shook his head. "I keep letting you in and every time he comes back, I push you away again... So... I just want to make sure he is truly gone. I don't want to hurt you again..." She whispered and he ruffled her hair softly. "I would let you hurt me as many times as it took for me to finally be the one who won. Besides... you know I will always come back to pick up the pieces he left behind." He said and she hugged him tightly, her shoulders shaking softly as she started to cry once more.

"I hate that. I hate that you are so willing to be the one who comes to fix me when he breaks me again..." She sobbed and he hugged her tightly. "I will always be here for you Ashura... never doubt that." He whispered into her hair. "As long as I can be your love in the end, I will be ok." He said and she started crying harder. "It isn't fair to you." She managed and he shrugged. "Life hasn't been fair to either of us, so I cant really hate Uldren for disappearing. He's known I was a threat from the beginning." He said smugly and it seemed she couldn't hold in the laugh that escaped her. Her shoulders shook once more, but this time it wasn't with the heartbreaking sobbing... this time it was pure mirth.

"You aren't wrong." She giggled and he tossed an arm around her shoulder. "I bet he was always jealous when he had to leave you with me. Wondering if his love was letting me electrify her circuits." He chuckled, happier than anything that her sadness had been replaced with such joy. She had begun to laugh once more and she looked up at him and shook her head. "I love you." He said once more as he ruffled her hair and she shook her head softly.

"Stop saying it out loud." She muttered softly and he smirked internally. "Oooh I get it. I'm your dirty little secret. Alright boo, I can be that for you. It's actually kinda kinky. Sneaky robosex, got it." He chuckled and she shoved him away from her and shook her head. "I hate you sometimes." She laughed and he released a laugh. "Oh, if only that were true, you know you love me." He said and threw his arm over her shoulder once more. "Feed me then." She bit out and he shrugged. He could do that. He had already promised her that anyways. "And not ramen." She said and he gave her a dirty look and hoped she could feel said look burning into her head. He was imagining a small puff of smoke coming from her silvery hair, but rolled his eyes and sighed.

"Fine fine, whatever. Lead the way, I'm paying." He muttered and she smiled up at him so brilliantly.

:-:_ Two months later _:-:

Cayde had been helping her with the search for Uldren. He didn't have to but he insisted, but he had other things to handle now so that was alright. She could tell that he had just wanted to be around her. She Looked at the small blade in her grasp and furrowed her brows. Every now and then she would see a flicker of light streak across its surface. That was why she continued to search for him. She felt like he was alive, but she couldn't be sure. She had also noticed that whenever Noah was near the blade, it flickered up like that. She partially assumed that it was Noah's light causing the blade to react that way.

She sighed and looked up to the traveler. She wanted so desperately to know what had happened to him... but she also wanted him to finally be at peace and not fighting with the darkness that had been consuming him slowly. She thought back to the dream she'd had of the Ahamkara... Riven, as Uldren had called her. The creature had called Eris insane, Osiris a false prophet, and told her that Cayde and Uldren would die. She sighed and looked back down to the blade once more. She wanted to know how the creature knew these things and how she could fix them. The traveler shone brightly in the night sky, almost like a moon. She slipped from the ledge and made her way to her room to lay down.

She closed the door behind her softly as to not wake the small child in the room. She smiled as she saw Noah snuggled up next to Cayde, who had been watching him for her. She walked over and tapped him on the shoulder lightly. He stirred slightly, but held her son closer to him with a mumble of "Don't go Ace, I'm sorry. Don't leave me." Her heart dropped at hearing that. His voice sounded so sad... She turned to the bathroom only to find a visage of a woman who bore a striking resemblance to her. "Ivara." She greeted and the visage nodded. "Come talk to me in here while I shower." Ashura said softly and Ivara nodded silently.

"Is there something bothering you, Ivara?" Ashura asked as she let her hair free of the Norse braids Misra had taught her to put it in. "I just worry for him." Ivara stated softly and Ashura nodded. "I know. You know I'm not going to hurt him, right?" Ashura asked and Ivara nodded. "Yes of course." She whispered as Ashura turned the water on. "So why come to me in this form?" Ashura asked, motioning to the humanoid state she was in.

"I wanted you to see what he sees." She said softly as Ashura stepped into the shower. "Ivara... I care deeply for him. You know this... I'm not leading him on or trying to get his hopes up." Ashura said as she ran her fingers through her long hair. "I just... I don't want him to be hurt and I know that if I steer clear of him or ignore his feelings that is all I would be doing." Ashura sighed and waited a moment for a response from Ivara but there was nothing. She slid the door to the shower open slightly and looked to see her image faltering slightly. "Ivara?" Ashura called out, only for the apparition to look at her with sad eyes.

"You know he has a mission he is going on tomorrow, right?" Ivara asked and she nodded. "Yeah, I know." Ashura sighed and Ivara gave her a stern look. "He can't go." She bit out and Ashura stared at her oddly. "Something doesn't feel right. I need him not to go, Ashura." Before Ashura could even say anything the image of her was gone and Ashura was alone in her bathroom once more. The sound of the water hitting her bare skin echoing in her mind. She cleared her head and grabbed a towel off the bar beside her shower and dried herself off before wrapping it around her and stepping out. She stepped out of her room, only to see that Cayde was now awake and sitting on her bed.

"You don't want me to go tomorrow either do you?" He asked and she allowed Kabr to materialize clothes on her. "I don't know, what are you doing?" She asked and he rocked his head to the side. "Petra needs some help. Prisoners are getting a little antsy and she thinks they may riot so they want me to come and offer backup." He said and she nodded. "I don't want you to go, but I know you will whether I want you to or not." Ashura sighed and he chuckled.

"Hey, how many chances will I get to be able to say I've been in jail though?" She couldn't help but shake her head at this. "Fine go. Just promise me something." She said and he looked up at her. "Whatever you need." He said and she nodded. "See if Loki or Misra will go with you." She said and he held up his hands like he were offended. "Did you really think I was going to go alone?" he asked and she couldn't help but smile at the cocky tone in his voice. "Of course not." "I mean I've got way too many jokes to tell just you. Gotta bother someone else with them." He said and she smiled at him and sat on the bed beside him.

"Be safe." She said and he rolled his eyes. "But of course. Gotta be here to make sure the Princess don't come back and steal my midget." He said and she rolled her eyes and shoved him. "Go on, I need rest." She sighed with a small smile and he pointed finger guns at her and pretended to shoot, then blew his fingertips and crammed his hands in his pockets. "Get out of here you goof ass." She laughed and he waved her off in a manner of 'Ok ok'

"Goodnight Ashura." He said as he made his way to her door. "Goodnight Cayde-6." She returned as she pulled her son closer to her and the blanket over the both of them. She closed her eyes and began to drift off to sleep. However, the moment she did she regretted it.

'O child of mine. Make a wish and I will grant it.'

She looked around for the source of the voice but she couldn't find it. "What is the consequence of my wish?" Ashura asked and a resounding chuckle filled her ears. 'The young one is contemplating a wish.' The voice echoed around her and Ashura couldn't repress the shiver of discomfort the voice gave her. 'One must lose something to gain something. Equivalent exchange. Rule of law...' the voice echoed around her. "What do you want in exchange?" Ashura asked as she continued to look around to see if she could see the creature.

'This one wants many things. Most the young one cannot give... but one thing she can.' The voice echoed around her ominously and Ashura furrowed her brow. "What can I give you to keep them alive? I want to save both Uldren and Cayde. I can't have them die... I just can't!" Ashura yelled out and she heard the movement of mandibles before a sadistic laugh echoed around her once more. 'She gives consent. That is what we crave... she will do anything for the ones she loves... honorable.' The voice said and Ashura fisted her hands. "Just tell me what you want dammit!" she snarled only for her eyes to go wide. "You cant have my son!" She screamed and Riven laughed at this. 'We do not want the child. Make the wish and you will know, O child of mine.'

Ashura saw the clawed hand come down to reach for her once more. She stepped into the grasp of the beast and turned to see images of Osiris, Eris, Cayde, Uldren, Noah, and Mara appear. She wanted them all to be safe. She wanted them all to be alive and well... She froze for a moment, only to realize something important. "This means... Uldren is alive?!" she asked and the image of him stepped closer to her only to lay down and his eyes to slip shut. She touched the image of him and he was cold, but breathing. She ran her fingers over his face and she tried her hardest to hold back the tears.

"What happens if I don't make the wish?" Ashura asked and with a wave of the other hand, the image of Cayde hit his knees. Dents began to form all over him, broken lights and wiring became exposed and he began coughing and wheezing. He was reaching out to her and he collapsed face first, only for shards of Ivara to tumble out of his hands towards her. Ashura's heart began to race as she reached out to him but his image swirled away into nothingness. In his place was the Ace of Spades. Before she could touch it, a cloaked figure whisked it up and pointed it at her. She began crawling backwards away from the person, only for a resounding gunshot to force her to squeeze her eyes shut. When she opened them again it was not her who had been shot.

A scream caught in her throat as she crawled over to Uldren's body. She looked back up to the cloaked figure but only piercing silver eyes shone back before they vanished as well. She tried to put pressure on the wound but Uldren faded into nothing as well. Tears streaked over her cheeks as she realized that this torment wasn't over. Noah crawled over to her crying, a slight trail of blood coming from the corner of his mouth, before he too collapsed and blew away. Misra's body dropped out of nowhere and hit the ground in front of her with a sickening thud, only for the lights of her eyes to dim as well. She began sobbing, she didn't want this for any of them.

"Ashura..."

"No... no. NO!" she screamed as she turned to see Loki stumbling towards her with Eris in tow. "No!" she screeched as she stood to face the creature that was Riven. "Whatever you want! I will do whatever you want!" she screamed and only silence echoed around her. "Are you listening you sick bitch!?" Ashura screeched as she pounded her fists on the creature holding her in its grasp. "I will do it! Just tell me what you want!" she sobbed and dropped to her knees. 'Good young one... now make the wish and everything you desire will come true to you.' Riven said and Ashura nodded.

"I... I wish... Upon the Ahamkara Riven... I wish everyone I love can be safe... I wish they will live!!" she yelled and the face of the creature lowered themselves to look her in the face. Ashura stumbled back slightly, but still stood her ground against the creature. Riven tilted her head to the left and looked for any sign of backing down from her. Upon seeing none, a horrifying expression crossed the creature when her face opened up like a carnivorous plant to reveal a cluster of eyes and thousands of teeth. 'Good... good.' The creature muttered softly only to place Ashura back on the ground.

'We Riven, Accept your wish and as such, we grant it.'

It was immediately after that, that she dropped into what felt like an eternal darkness. Ashura finally touched ground what felt like hours later. Her toes touched the ground and an explosion of color erupted around her. The marbled floors and amethyst walls all came into view and Ashura sighed in slight relief. She followed the path forward until she came upon a wall with two skulls on pedestals. She touched the first one and its eyes lit up, same happened when she touched the second one.

'A selfless wish...' the first one whispered. 'A rarity in these dire times.' The second one continued. She stepped back away from them slowly upon hearing the hum come from the both of them. "What is my payment for the granting of my wish?" she asked and the two went silent for a moment, the humming stopping as well. 'That is up to Riven.' The first skull said and she nodded. 'She is contemplating the cost. But you will know soon.' The second one said and Ashura nodded. 'She has decided.' The first skull said and its eyes glowed a bright white that blinded her. She shielded her eyes from the light, but once it dimmed she turned back to see the skulls gone and writing on the wall where they once were.

She brushed her fingers over the writing, trying to understand what it said but it was in a language she didn't know. Rapid footfalls caught her attention and she turned to see who was coming. "What the hell have you done!" Mara's voice came out in nothing but pure rage. "I... I was trying to save him." Ashura whispered as the enraged queen stalked towards her. Her normally blue eyes glowing bright white with pure rage. "All wishes with an Ahamkara have consequences!" she snarled and Ashura nodded. "I know..." she whispered and Mara's eyes softened.

"You know it's you she wants then?" Mara asked and Ashura nodded. Mara gripped her shoulders gently. "You know that's not fair to any of them..." Mara whispered and Ashura offered a small smile and looked her dead in the eyes.

"The life of one for the lives of the many is as good a trade I will ever get." Ashura said and Mara frowned deeply. "See... that's what you don't understand," Mara began, causing Ashura to look at her oddly. "They will live... but she made no promises that they would stay the way you remembered." Ashura fell to her knees as the image of Mara vanished from before her. She looked down at her hands as tears streaked over her cheeks once more dropping to splash in the palms of her open hands. She felt like she couldn't breathe... this wasn't right... it wasn't fair. She looked up to the sky and soon it went dark as well.

Her eyes snapped open and she threw back the blanket and scurried to her feet. "Noah?!" she called out and began searching her home for him. She threw open the front door to her home and came face to face with Misra. "Oh Misra... have you seen Noah?" she asked and Misra watched her for a minute. "What happened to you? Where were you?" Misra asked and Ashura furrowed her brow. "What do you mean?" she asked and Misra looked away from her silently. "Ashura... We looked for you everywhere. We thought you had gone after him..." Loki said from behind Misra. "What are you not telling me?" she begged and he frowned.

"Noah is safe... He is with Ikora right now... but you need to come with us." He whispered softly and her heart dropped. She caught sight of the small silver item he held in his hand and her heart caught in her throat. She shook her head in disbelief. All she could do was back away from him slowly. It took everything she had not to scream in anguish when he grabbed her hand and placed the item within her grasp. His mouth was moving but she couldn't hear the words he was saying. Her heartbeat was drowning out everything else. She tried to speak but nothing would come out. She wanted him to stop talking she needed him to stop talking.

The sadness in his eyes was unbearable to her it was suffocating. She struggled to catch her breath and clutched the item to her chest. When she finally caught enough air in her lungs she couldn't withhold her grief any longer. "N-no...!" she wailed, which caught them off guard.

She took off towards the vanguard room with Loki and Misra right behind her. When they weren't there, she ran to the only other place they could be. She entered the room and her voice caught in her throat. "N-no! No!" she wailed and gripped the banner that was laid across him tightly. "No! No...no...no...no!" She sobbed as she pulled it back to look at him. Her fingers gently traced over his cheeks and she screamed out once more.

"I'm so sorry." She pleaded with him as she pulled him up and into her lap. She buried her face into his neck and sobbed even louder. She rocked herself and his body back and forth pleading for him to move. Pleading for him to wake up and make a horrible joke one more time. Telling him she loved him and he couldn't leave her. That he promised her. "Please... please please.... I can't do this without you..." She wailed as she clutched him closer to her. "I can't do this Cayde. Please don't make me do this without you..." She sobbed into his cloak. "It was supposed to save you!" she wailed as she struggled to wrap her fingers with his. Not once did she stop rocking him. She needed him to be here with her.

"We had plans..." She whispered as she rocked him. "I thought we had time... I thought it would be ok..." She wailed into his shoulder once more. "You were supposed to be here always!" she sobbed and kissed the top of his head repeatedly. "You were supposed to let me love you..." She whispered in between kisses to his cold head. "Who did this to you..." She whispered as she rocked him back and forth more. She continued to plead for him and cry over him what felt like hours. Her throat was sore and her eyes could no longer produce tears. "I'm so sorry..." She managed once more before a hand was placed on her shoulder.

"I just want to hear your voice..." She whispered and the gently grip on her shoulder tightened and the person pulled her away from his body despite her screaming and yelling for them to stop. "Please... I can't leave him..." she sobbed and the person hugged her tightly. The two of them hit the floor, both of them crying now. "Oh Ashura..." Ikora's voice broke through and Ashura looked to her with tear filled eyes. "Ikora... I told him he could go..." She whispered and Ikora hugged her tightly as she cried. "This isn't on you... this isn't his fault either. I promise." She whispered softly. Ashura hugged the older woman back tightly she shoved her face into her shoulder.

"This is on Uldren Sov."

Chills crawled all over Ashura's body the moment those words left Ikora's mouth. Her lip curled back into an enraged sneer. She sat there on the floor with the rage boiling up inside her as Ikora stood and began speaking to Zavala. She couldn't tell what they were saying because the only thing going through her mind was that she was going to kill him. And Riven. Ashura slowly rose to her feet and turned to the two that were talking.

"Uldren Sov is mine." She hissed and they turned to look at her. She turned and walked out of the room the rage boiling to a head. "Ashura." Misra called out and Ashura turned to face her. "I'm going with you." It wasn't a question, she was demanding it. "Then lets go. We have to meet with Petra." She bit out and Misra nodded. A soft light caressed her and she turned to see her son watching her curiously. "Why mad mama?" He asked and her rage temporarily faded. "Oh little love... Uncle Cayde was hurt really bad... mama is going to go make sure it doesn't happen to anyone else." She said softly as she rubbed his cheeks.

"Daddy is awake mama..." He whispered in her ear and she shivered. "Daddy is having nightmares." He said and her shoulders slumped. "Mama is going to make sure daddy never has nightmares again, ok?" she asked and he nodded. "Thank you mama." She said and she nodded to him. "No go find uncle Loki, mama is going to be gone a while dear." She said and he tottered off to find her brother.

Ashura made her way home with Misra right behind her. Misra watched as the woman collapsed to her knees and began crying once more. "Who went with him?" She sobbed and Misra sat next to her and laid her head on her shoulder. "It was Sasuke... I'm sorry..." She whispered and Ashura shook her head. "It isn't your fault. Its mine." Ashura said and forced herself to stand once more.

"I'm the one who made the wish with the Ahamkara."

:-:-:-:

"Ashura, Misra! Watch your back I'm sending reinforcements." Petra called out to them as they continued punching their way through these new corrupted enemies. They looked like fallen but their ether was dark and corrupt. Ashura could smell it when they died. They continued to push through until they saw fallen and servitors donning spiked armor coming out of seemingly nowhere. They began fighting these new enemies as well so Ashura was caught a little off guard. "You didn't say the backup would be fallen." She said and Petra sighed. "I figured you would enjoy this one." She said and Ashura nodded.

They continued their fight until they reached a barrier where there was one of the fallen standing guard. He deactivated the barrier and let them in. They took this moment to breathe and rest momentarily. Petra's voice was heard down the hallway so the two of them made their way down to where a large fallen sat upon a throne of what looked to be ghosts. Ashura stared at this one in disdain. "Guardians welcome to my home." He said and Ashura looked over to see Petra standing off to the side with her hood pulled over her head.

"Ashura I'm so sorry about Cayde..." she said and Ashura nodded silently. "I want the Ace of Spades. Where is it?" She asked and Petra frowned. "I don't know... I think Uldren has it..." She trailed off softly and Ashura nodded. "Tell me about these 'Barons' then." Ashura muttered distastefully. "Since you were so willing to help me with everything else I've asked of you so far I will tell you about them." Spider bit out and Ashura watched him as he adjusted himself on his 'throne'.

"The first one you will need to remove from my shores, is Yaviks. The rider... the only one to ever beat them in a race was your dearly departed friend. She will be waiting for you, so don't keep her." Spider said and Ashura glanced to Misra who nodded. "Go take care of that one." Ashura said and Misra nodded once more. "Of course. She wont even know what hit her." Misra said as she turned to leave. "You think she can handle that?" He asked and Ashura nodded. "Now who is next?" She said and he made a noise deep in his throat.

"Next is Araskes, the Trickster." He said, and planned to continue, but more footsteps echoes in the tunnel leading to him and Ashura turned to face the newcomers. She offered a polite nod to them. "Loki." She greeted and he offered the same polite nod back. She looked behind him to see Sasuke, Hinata, and Sakura behind him as well. "We thought you could use an army." Sakura said and Ashura nodded. "Burn them to the ground." She bit out and they all nodded. "Sasuke, Loki, I think the Trickster would be more your style to handle." Ashura said and the two of them nodded.

"We already intercepted Misra and Naruto is going to help her with the rider." Sakura said and Ashura gave a hum of approval. "Next Target Spider." Ashura bit out and he grunted at her. "You seem to have a certain target in mind." He said and she watched him with expressionless eyes. "I see..." he hummed softly then pulled the next wanted card from the stack and turned it to face her. "Kaniks, the mad bomber. He is a little odd. Name self explanatory." He said and Ashura looked to Sakura who nodded. "Gaara, Got one for you. Kaniks the mad bomber. Sending you coordinates now." She said and he made a noise of affirmation over the headset.

"Cocky bunch aren't you?" Spider wheezed but the look he got from Ashura made him go silent. A smirk crossed her lips and he seemed to lose words for a moment. "You have no idea." She said and he grunted once more, only to pull up the next card in the deck. "Reksis Vahn. The hangman. He has an affinity for fire and swinging his ball and chain around." Spider said and Ashura glanced at Sakura who smirked and cracked her knuckles. "I got this one, Ashura. I'll show him why he never should've escaped." She said and Ashura offered a small nod.

Spider watched her carefully once more. "You all interest me. I want to see what you can do." He said and pulled the next wanted card out. "Hiraks, the mind bender. He is mated with a hive witch who helped him develop the ability to control hive." He said and Ashura looked to Hinata who was already talking to someone. "Shikamaru and Lion are on that one." She said softly and Ashura offered the woman a small nod. "And now for one of the ones I know you're after." Spider said and Ashura furrowed her brow. "Pirrha the rifleman. He's the one who took out the ghost of your beloved Exo Cayde-6." Spider said and Ashura grit her teeth at this.

"He creates decoys and prefers to stay at a distance." Spider said and planned to say more but Ashura had already turned to leave, Hinata following close behind. "We will be back shortly." Ashura bit out and Petra nodded. Hinata rushed to follow her silently. "Ashura..." She called out and the other woman stopped. "Please don't fall back to the self-destructive pattern you were in before... Noah needs his mother." Hinata said softly and fully expected the other woman to be angry with her but she wasn't. Ashura offered her a hand which she gently took in her own.

"I won't I promise." She said and offered a small smile. The first smile anyone had seen from her since his death. It was a broken smile, but it was still there. "What are you going to do when this is all over?" Hinata asked and Ashura shook her head. "This will never be over until I find a way to get Cayde back. I was lied to Hinata." Ashura said and Hinata looked at her oddly as they made their way through the caverns where Pirrha resided. "I was promised that both Cayde and Uldren would live. I was promised that everyone I loved would be ok, but the moment I made the deal with the devil I was released and Cayde was dead." She whispered and Hinata watched her intently.

"And now I have to kill Uldren too." Her voice broke as she said this. Hinata knew she stilled loved him even though he had hurt Cayde. "It's kinda fucked up isn't it?" Ashura asked, sensing what Hinata was feeling. "No... Not at all. You loved them both. In different ways, but it was still love. And to still love someone even though they've hurt you time and time again... it's not too far fetched." Hinata said softly and Ashura nodded gently. "I suppose so..." she sighed as they made their way into the main cavern. Pirrha stood in the back of the cave taunting them about Cayde. His decoys appeared all over the room and Ashura felt the all too familiar pulse of energy that signaled she was using the special ability of her eyes.

"Upper back left is the real one." She said and Ashura burst into flames, the large hammer firmly in her grasp as she lunged forward and swung it down to leave a pillar of flame that rushed right for him. He ducked out of the way and his decoys faltered, but every time he moved or summoned them again Hinata told her exactly where he was. She reached him once more and swung her hammer in an arc in front of her. It collided with him and sent him flying into the far wall behind him. "Queen Ashura." He pleaded as she raised the hammer over her head. She sneered at him while Hinata took out the scorn that had appeared to help him.

"You have no idea what is happening do you?" he asked and she dropped the hammer down to where he was, only for him to roll out of the way swiftly. Her hammer vanished and she rushed at him with her bare hands. "You bastards killed my friend." She snarled as she ripped the gun from his grasp and threw it. He aimed a punch at her and it connected, but so did hers. He went rolling across the ground once more, only for him to manage to reach his weapon and fire a shot. Ashura recoiled from the hit that burned across her cheek. She began furling and unfurling her fists, electricity sparking off of them every time she did so.

She lunged at him and connected time after time until he could no longer fight back. He crumpled against the back wall wheezing and trying hard to breathe. "My Queen... please..." He pleaded once more as she crouched before him, her hands on his shoulders gently. "King Uldren just wants to take you home." He said and she watched him in silence as he gently reached up to caress her cheek gently. "My queen..." He repeated once more, was going to say something else but she interrupted him. "I am no queen of yours." She whispered softly as she moved her hands to his face. A sudden snap echoed about and he went limp. She felt bad the moment she heard Hinata retching behind her.

"Forgive me Hinata, but he gets no mercy for what he did to Cayde and Ivara." She said as she picked up his rifle and took it with her as she made her way out of the cavern. Hinata was close behind, but at more of a distance than before. Ashura knew the kind hearted woman hadn't deserved to see that but Pirrha deserved his fate. She re-entered the Spiders hideout and saw that Sakura, Sasuke, Naruto, and the others were all there as well. "I assume you brought trophies of their demise?" Ashura asked and they all nodded. "Give them to me." She said and Misra offered her Yavik's riding helmet. She was also offered the Hangman's weapon, the tricksters bracelet which turned things into other things, the mind bender's helmet, and one of the mad bombers diffused bombs.

Kabr decrypted all of these items for her and she looked up to Spider who seemed to be on edge. "Next one is the Machinist." He said and began explaining her to them. "Whoever wants to go after her feel free. Remember, bring me a trophy." Ashura said and the group nodded. Sasuke, Sakura, and Naruto decided this one was theirs. "Shikamaru, you and Gaara should probably take Hinata home." Ashura said and they looked at her oddly. "I fear I may have traumatized her with my methods."

The two of them nodded and Shikamaru offered Hinata a hand who took it silently. When they were gone Petra watched her to see if she were going to explain. "What did you do?" She asked when Ashura said nothing. Ashura glanced to Petra, then down at her blood spattered hands. "I murdered him with my bare hands." Was all she said, and it was all she needed to say. Petra stared at her in shock. "Are you going to-" Ashura cut her off with a glance. "I don't know how I'm going to kill Uldren yet... I don't even know if I will." She sighed and Petra nodded.

Misra stepped up to Ashura, while Loki and Lion held back. "Ashura..." Misra called out and the two behind them said nothing. "You all know who this one is?" she asked and the two nodded. Her eyes slipped shut and a sad smile broke out across her lips as tears streaked over her face. Her head ducked down and she fisted her hands. "It... It's my Fikrul... Isn't it?" she managed and neither of them said anything. "At least one of the ones I loved is still alive." She whispered softly only to choke back another sob. "Ashura... If this is going to be hard on you... We can handle it." Loki offered gently but she shook her head.

"Fikrul was my responsibility. Only seems fit that he be my responsibility now too." She whispered and he nodded. "Then let me come with you." He said and Ashura thought it over for a moment then nodded. "Only if you promise to let me be the one to finish him. As a mother should take care of their young and show them the utmost mercy." She said and everyone became silent. "Promise me!" she bit out as a new set of tears fell over her dirty cheeks clearing dirt in their path.

"We promise." Loki muttered softly and Misra nodded, twin trails of mechanical fluid dripping over her cheeks as well. "Oh my sister... please don't cry anymore." Ashura whispered as she smeared the trails off her cheeks with her thumbs before she placed her hands on Misra's cheeks. "It will be over soon... I promise." She whispered and Misra nodded only for her shoulders to shake. Ashura pulled the Exo into an embrace and held her there tightly. She stepped away once Misra had calmed herself once more and she patted her on the cheeks once more.

"Let's rest... we need it before we make the trek to the watchtower." Loki said and the two nodded. Ashura and Misra propped themselves against the wall next to each other. They were sleeping leaning against one another when he left. He looked up to the sky and sighed deeply. Lion approached him from the landing zone and offered him a small bundled pack with Ashura's name written on it. "Is this-?" "Yeah. Zavala wanted her to have it." He said and Loki nodded as he took the package from his friend. "We are dropping like flies..." He whispered and Lion nodded.

"Are you worried about her?" Lion asked and Loki nodded. "Every single day." He sighed and Lion nodded. "I get that. She is so much stronger than we take her for though. I'd hate to say it but she may be stronger than we are." He sighed and Loki smirked at him. "You'll never hear that again." He muttered and Loki nodded. "Thus the reason I would never say it." He sighed and looked back up to the sky. "She's definitely one to forge a path." He said and Lion gave him an odd look. "You never noticed? She always discovered new abilities before anyone else." Loki said and Lion shrugged.

"None of us could use other elements before she arrived. In the vault... after she was hurt... We all felt this rush of light and we began using other abilities, do you remember?" Loki asked and Lion nodded. "Any time we learned something new, she always knew it first. Honestly I think she was being a greedy turd and hiding it from the rest of us to make herself look better." Lion joked and Loki rolled his eyes. "Honestly I wouldn't doubt it." He chuckled as he stretched and stood. "I have to go and get some rest. I'm going with them tomorrow to take down Fikrul." Loki said and Lion shook his head.

"Actually you aren't." He said and Loki eyed him oddly. "Krux made it known she is going." He sighed and Loki nodded. "I can understand that. He was her mate." Loki sighed as he turned to make his way back inside, Lion close behind. When they reached Ashura and Misra, Petra had covered them with an old blanket. "Give this to her, could you?" He asked and Petra nodded as she sat back against the wall. Loki turned around to see a familiar female fallen making her way down to where they were. "Krux." The spider greeted softly only for the female Kell to eye him oddly.

"Father."

:-:-:-:

Ashura looked up at the watchtower and had to admire the beauty of it. It was every bit as beautiful as she had dreamed it would be. Marble and amethyst and pure beauty. Misra took a few steps up and the wind whirled around them violently as Fikrul appeared on the steps. His rage filled voice echoed around them. "You enjoyed killing them?" he asked. "You enjoyed putting them in dirt? Where you belong?" he asked and Ashura's heart tugged at this. Krux opened fire on him and he vanished behind a wall and scorn began to appear all around them.

They could still hear his voice, angry as can be even though he had already moved on. "Did it make you feel good?" he asked and Ashura held a hand over her heart as she watched Misra and Krux kill the scorn. He listed off each of the barons by name and she looked down as the barrier lowered. "Tell me... I wish to know how I will feel when I kill YOU." He snarled as they made their way in.

A blinding flash of light hit them and before they knew it they were no longer touching the ground. He had them tethered and was pulling them in. "I will pay any price to be there when YOU die." He bit out as they were pulled in closer, but once he actually saw who they were he dropped them. "Mother..." He wheezed and she stepped closer to him and offered him a hand. He reached out and picked her up carefully. "Oh... Fikrul... what happened to you... I was so worried when I came to see you and there was blood everywhere..." she whispered as she placed her hands on his mandibles. "Father saved me." He said and she frowned. "He made you into something else... You aren't who you were with me Fikrul..." She whispered and he shook his head.

"No... I am... stronger. Father made me stronger." He said and Ashura stared at him sadly. "Oh... my dearest Fikrul... I am so very sorry." She whispered as she threw her arms around his neck and hugged him tightly. He hit one knee and began hugging her back. "I'm sorry I worried you mother." He said, only for a sudden pain to strike him in the neck. His grip loosened on Ashura and she was crying as he crumpled to the floor his hands gripping at the wound that was steady leaking ether. "Please forgive me..." She whispered as she stroked his face. "M-mother..." he managed before his eyes slipped shut. One of her extra arms dropped the weapon she had used on him. She reached over to his arm and unwound the cloth bound tightly there. It was once a cloak for the house of light but he was far too large to wear it so she had tied it to his forearm. She passed it to her ghost and stood to her feet, tears still streaking over her cheeks as she looked up to see another stairway.

She turned back to see Krux had laid in the floor beside the male that was once her mate. "Please forgive me Krux..." She whispered as the female wailed in eliksni about the death of her lover. Ashura already felt horrible for what she had done, but there was no turning back now. She would have preferred Fikrul die knowing his adoptive mother loved him rather than him knowing she was also going to go face his adoptive father and possibly kill him as well. She turned back to see Misra standing by her side. "It's ok... she will forgive you." Misra said as they made their way up the steps.

They made their way through the watchtower fighting of taken fallen and cabal the entire way. There were a few taken portals that they passed through which felt odd to say the least. They were taken to a different plane it seemed. There were floating rocks and they jumped from one to another only to reach another portal which brought them out of that place. They made their way up to a large red door and glanced at one another. They shoved open the door to see Uldren standing in front of what looked like another portal with a shard of the traveler in his hands.

When the portal opened he was calling out to his sister, which caught Ashura off guard. She then called out to him as something reached through the portal with translucent tendrils. "Uldren!!" the moment he heard her voice it seemed like he had snapped out of it. He began screaming as the creature held him tighter and threw him in it's mouth. Ashura's heart leapt out of her chest as it turned on them. "Ok... I know I know... totally not the right time... But... that's a floating butthole." Misra said and if the creature hadn't spat a void orb at them, or you know... eaten Uldren... she admits she would have laughed.

Ashura dove one way while Misra dove the other. In between fighting off the orbs it sent at them, they were also fighting off taken cabal and thrall. Ashura was transported to the other realm once more, only to fight her way through more taken. She made it back to the portal that she hoped led out. When she came through Misra was releasing golden gun rounds straight into the mouth of the creature. Ashura pulled hers to do the same but she was hit with one of the orbs and it knocked her out of her super. A flicker of something flashed through her head. It was Cayde. He had had the same happen to him and he had released a super similar to Eris' Hydra blades.

She felt the flames crawl up her body as she jumped only for her to release the blades right at the creature. It screamed in pain and was sucked into what looked like a small portal. Ashura hit her knees and breathed a sigh of relief. That was before she heard a familiar groan across the way. She slipped her eyes shut and stood. She made her way over to where the Ace of Spades lay on the ground. She carefully picked it up and made her way over to where Uldren was struggling. "Congratulations, you have my undivided attention." He bit out as she pulled the weapon on him. "Now where's my sister?!" He snapped and Ashura pitied him in this moment.

"She's not here Uldren," Petra called out to him and Ashura looked over to her. "And if she were this would be so much easier." She snarled as she pulled her weapon on him too. "So this is to be a reckoning." He sighed as he glanced between the two women. "Not like this. Look at him he's already finished." Kabr said to her and she thought it over for a moment. He was right...

To an extent.

Ashura reached up and removed her helmet, watching as those Amber eyes she loved so very much widened upon seeing her. "You're right." She said as she looked over to her ghost. "Not this way." She said, which gave her ghost a moment to relax. "Ashura..." he whispered as he reached out to her. She just looked down to the Ace of Spades and opened the cylinder to look in the barrel and empty the rounds within. "Ashura! You and I both know that if Cayde-6 were here what he would do!" Petra called out as Ashura snapped the cylinder shut.

Uldren glared up at Petra and waved a hand at her. "Of course, what would the notorious Cayde-6 do?" he snapped and looked to Ashura. "You have his gun, seems like you should get the last word." He said, although he said this softer than he had when talking to Petra. Ashura knelt down in front of him and he reached out to her once more. She embraced him gently then pulled back. He placed his hands on her cheeks, a pleading look in his eyes. She reached up to trace his markings once more. She had missed him so dearly. Those beautiful eyes and his voice... she had missed every bit of him. She offered a small smile as she tilted his chin up with the empty Ace of Spades.

"I loved him you know." Ashura said as she rubbed the gun against his chin. "I loved Cayde. Not quite like I loved you..." she sighed softly and he just watched her. The love and admiration in his eyes burned at her soul. "I thought you were dead, my love..." He said and she shook her head. "No... I killed Ghaul. I have taken down every obstacle in my path." She sighed as she pulled the gun from under his chin. "Please forgive me for Cayde." He pleaded with her and she closed her eyes. "I don't think... no matter how much I loved you and still do... I don't think I can ever forgive you for killing the one man who was always there to pick up the pieces of me that you destroyed every time you left." She said and he nodded.

"I Love you... always and forever..." He began and she offered him a sad smile as she raised the weapon to him once more. "Always and forever, Ashura Sov." He said and his eyes slipped shut as he waited for what was to come. Ashura looked over to Petra who was eager to pull the trigger, but Ashura did it first. When he slumped to the ground she did as well, the barrel of the Ace of Spades burning her wrist the moment it touched her, the small string of ribbon burning away slowly. It had melted to the mouth of the barrel. "What have I done?" she sobbed as she leaned forward to cradle the weapon in her hands. Petra fell to her knees as well and looked from Uldren to Ashura. Ashura crawled over to him and pulled him into her lap.

She wailed as she held him close to her. "I thought I could do it... I thought I wouldn't hurt." She sobbed as Misra made her way over to her. "I have hurt so many..." She sobbed into Uldren's neck. She patted his cheeks and begged for him to breathe. "I'm so sorry..." She sobbed as she held his hand. "I just wanted to save all of them." She wailed as she brushed the hair from his face. "Instead I just hurt them all." She sobbed as she pressed her forehead against his. "I wanted to love him for the rest of my days... I wanted to have my best friend by my side until the end of times... I wanted so much and Riven..." She said that name so distastefully. "That coward took everything from me!" she snarled as she ran her fingers through Uldren's hair once more.

"Ashura... How do you know about Riven?" Petra asked and Ashura looked up at her with tear filled eyes. Petra seemed truly terrified by this revelation.

"I made a wish on her that they would all live."

"You didn't..." Petra breathed out, eyes wide. "I did... and she granted my wish." Ashura said as her tears fell onto Uldren's cheeks. "What did you promise her?" Petra asked, shooting to her feet. She seemed truly scared. Ashura didn't understand what was upsetting her. "What did you promise her in return?!" she snapped, grabbing Ashura by her cloak. "I... I promised her me." Petra dropped onto her knees once more. "You don't understand why she would be so willing to take the life of one for the life of many, do you?" Petra asked and Ashura shook her head. "You... You are supposed to be the one to break her curse and set her free on the universe." Petra bit out and Ashura looked down at her hands.

"Set her free or kill her?" She asked and Petra looked up at her once more. "It could go either way Ashura... the Queen of Kells was supposed to be the only one who could end her reign... and if you promised yourself to her... eventually she gets your light and she is free." Petra said solemnly and Ashura nodded. Ashura frowned as she caressed Uldren's cheek one last time. Even after everything he had done... she still loved him so dearly. She looked down at the Starshard one more time and closed her eyes. The Blade was so dark it didn't even have the black ethereal glow it once had. "I'm keeping this..." She whispered as she bent down to place a kiss on his forehead.

"Petra help me prepare for this. Riven will meet her end by my hand."