DWA: Now with the Heart of Darkness defeated, our group has some things to tidy up! So please, sit back and enjoy!

Chapter 23: Winter's Fall

Sara was sitting in her room, looking herself over in the mirror. She'd felt, odd as of late. The feeling was in her chest and would vanish quickly. However it's been fading, like she's been getting used to it.

"I've looked you over more times than I'm comfortable saying Sara, you're fine." Seraph said. "You're Light is fine too."

"Yeah, you're right." She said putting on her shirt. "I'm just a tad stir crazy. Blitzkrieg is out on Mars and fighting the Cabal, and I'm here being bored." She said shrugging as she walked over to her terminal and started typing her findings. She'd been doing lots of research on artifacts teams had brought from the Gardens. Since she was there during its Vex occupation, the Chryptarchs feel she should know more. She wish she did but the mission was far more pressing at the time.

So most were summed up as; found nothing new please stop. She sighed and looked out her window.

"There's gotta be something…" She said.

Seraph floated by her and blinked.

"I may have something. You know all those operations we did disturbing the House Winter?" He asked

"Yeah?"

"The Kell has landed his Ketch to oversee operations." He said. Sara glanced over.

"The Kell, the lord of the house? Landed?" She asked.

"That's right. There's an open slot for a fire team." He said. Sara spun on her heel.

"Sign us up." She said as she ran out the door and her armor formed around her. Her new armor looked sleek and professional. Longer robe, and such. She'd finally gotten some awesome gear.

"Aaand signed." Seraph said. He then notified the rest of Mythic. Confirmation notices came in quickly as Sara armored up as she ran to the hanger. She was eager to get out of the Tower after nearly a week boring missions and pointless research.

It wasn't long before Alsyf and Theoduin showed up.

"A Kell huh? Finally something interesting." Theoduin said.

"Normally I'd argue this is a very important mark and we need to take it seriously…but yeah I'm just happy to be doing something interesting." Alsyf said. "Plus, ya think he'll know us from messing up his operations?"

"Maybe, more fun if he does." Sara sad as she transmatted into her ship, her teammates following. Their ships took off and jumped into warp speed. The Vanguard channel opened.

"Fireteam Mythic, thank you for taking this mission." Zavala said.

"Of course Sir, we already messed up Winter a lot. Might as well do more and kill the Kell.

"Our thought exactly Guardians." Cayde chimed in. "Oo, if you see like, anything with ice, tell me cause I got a bet with someone and I gotta win."

"What Cayde means, is look out for any secrets the House of Winter might be keeping from us." Ikora said.

"Yes Ma'am. We'll keep our eyes open." Theoduin said.

"He means me." Sara said.

"Have fun Guardians." Cayde said and the channel closed as they came out of warp and flew down to the LZ, and transmatted down.

"We'll, we're ready when you are." Silvia said. The three got their guns ready, Sara had a rather well made scout rifle, colored in white, red and gold. A gift from the New Monarchy Faction. Her bond was also from the Faction, a red band with three scrolls facing outward.

Alsyf had a new hand cannon from Future War Cult. This one was a nice purple and had the logo on both sides. He'd grown to love it, even from just using it in the practice range. He also had a new cloak. But it really looked like a scarf with how small the fabric was. It still reached down to his lower back and he seemed to like it.

Theoduin had a new auto rifle from Dead Orbit, colored black and white. It fired slower than most, but packed quite a punch. His mark was black and the Logo of Dead Orbit was colored in white on it.

"Let's Go Mythic!" She said as she summoned her Sparrow and took off, the rest taking off after her. They arrive at a set of Caves, with Winter Banners all over, and head inside. The group keeps their head on a swivel seeing the number of holes in the walls.

"So, how deep do they go?" Theoduin asked. Seraph appeared and let out a pulse.

"They go on for a long time, but aren't very deep. Still, there could be thousands of Fallen in this cave system." He said

"So loud noises are a no go huh?" Sara said. Theoduin looked at his auto rifle then back to her.

"The fuck you mean no loud noises all we got are loud noises." He said holding it up

"…Just don't shoot until shot at." She said. Even through her helmet he could feel the 'I hate you so much' glare she was giving.

It made him chuckle.

The group come to a large room inside the cave. A roar was heard and several fallen crawled out of wherever they were hiding, all wearing the light blue tinge of House Winter. Some Vandals had special crests on their chests.

"The Kell's Guard!" Athena said.

"Careful, Kell's Guard don't go down without a fight!" Alsyf said firing his Hand cannon, the shots boring into a Vandal, then exploding, causing a roar from it as it fired back, the three taking cover. Sara quickly shot rounds from her Scout Rifle. The rate of fire was quick, along with controlled recoil and a large magazine she could take out many enemies quickly, she was taking out mostly fodder.

Theoduin fired his auto rifle, a steady fire rate in between what he'd seen so far. Not too fast, not too slow. The three fought the Fallen to the last, and moved on after a quick round up of ammo and engrams.

"If the Kell's Guard are here, the Kell is close." Silvia said.

They ran through the rest of the cave and soon found themselves outside, and saw the Ketch.

It was huge.

"Holy shit, think they're selling?" Theoduin asked.

"Hmm, do you even have enough?" Sara asked.

"Dude you're not thinking right. We all ride that bad boy." Theoduin said.

"Before that, let's go talk to the owner. I'm sure I can convince him to give us a discount." Alsyf said.

"You? Who here stays up learning Eliksni all night? Pff, you wouldn't know an insult from a marriage proposal." Sara said as she ran ahead.

"I feel like the tone would tell me!" Alsyf shouted back.

"Dude, its all gibberish to both of us don't even lie." Theoduin said as he took pot shots on the Fallen guarding the ship. Alsyf watched him try and use an auto rifle at such a long rang and sighed.

"Stop stealing my job." He said and shoved him. Theoduin shouted in surprise and rolled down the steep slope as Alsyf set up with his sniper, lying down on his stomach. "You're terrible at it." He said as she shot a captain, his Sniper round piercing its shield and skull at once as Sara took on Vandals from a distance.

"Hey, mind taking out their snipers? I can't move up." Sara said over the comms. Alsyf looked to the ship to see three Vandals with long rifles, firing down near Sara as Theoduin took the front guards off her.

"They make it so easy." Alsyf said as he shot three rounds in quick succession, killing the snipers. Soon all the Fallen outside were dead, and the three met up in front of the ship, and walked in. They fought their way through the corridors, many more Kell's Guard slowing them down.

"We're getting close." Alsyf said.

"How do you know?" Theoduin asked. grunting as he forced open a locked door.

"That last group was all Kell's Guard. Next room should be his." He said.

"Sounds fine to me." Sara said as she loaded her rifle. The group walked up a long corridor, until the door opened, and there sat the Kell, on his throne. It looked over at the three as they entered and growled, clicking its mandibles before standing. Sara sighed and cleared her throat. She then shouted in the Eliksni language. The other two looked at each other and shrugged. The Kell seemed surprised before laughing and shouting back.

"I told him his reign as Kell was over and added a witty joke about the seasons. I think he appreciated the humor, but is royally pissed at us." Sara said.

"Knowing you, it wasn't witty." Alsyf said.

"There's a reason I don't do Stand-up nights." She said. The Kell lifted his fist and slammed it down, the door closing behind him as he spoke again.

"Now you'll see why I'm Kell of House Winter." Sara said.

"Sara, temperature outside your suit is dropping, fast." Seraph said.

"Considering we've done missions one the Moon I think we'll be fine." Theoduin said.

"That's not what we're worried about, but it should be noted we've sealed your suits. What's worrying is the fact frost is appearing. The room is very humid and now with the cold..." Silvia said

"Our suits can freeze up." Theoduin said. "Keep moving!" He said. The three started running and firing on the Kell, who roared and pulled out two shock sabers and two shrapnel Launchers. He fired at Theoduin who took the hits before ducking into cover. He popped back out and started firing. Sara threw a Vortex grenade at the Kell, who swiped at it with a saber, causing it to detonate, and he stepped back.

The floor was beginning to ice up.

Alsyf jumped up to on top of the Kell's throne and started firing down on him. The bullets exploded on his armor, causing him to turn and fire his launchers in succession. Alsyf was hit and ducked into cover and Theoduin threw a Pulse grenade, the pulses of Arc energy forcing the Kell to step away.

Sara grinned as she pulled out her Machine Gun and started unloading into the Kell, Alsyf and Theoduin firing Rockets into him, causing him to roar and let out a blast of cold air as he slammed his blades into the ground, knocking the three to their feet.

"Jeez does this guy have magic or something!?" Theoduin shouted.

"Feels like it." Sara said. "Who's got supers?" She asked as she ran to cover, nearly sliding away from it before she grabbed it to stop her sliding.

"I'm set." Alsyf said as he fired into the Kell's head.

"Same!" Thouduin shouted as he fired another rocket, the blast staggering the Kell. He fired both of his shrapnel launchers at Theoduin, pelting him with, well, shrapnel as he took cover, sliding behind a wall for cover. "Ow." He said.

"I'm good to go! Theoduin, you first!" She said.

"We'll draw his attention!" Alsyf said as he took off and fired at the Kell. The Kell looked over and rushed him. Alsyf tried to change direction but slipped and was consequently slashed by the Kell twice. The kell swung its leg and hit Alsyf in the gut, sending him sprawling on the floor and sliding to a wall.

"Son of a bitch…" He groaned as he sat up.

"Going in!" Theoduin shouted as he rushed in, arc Light dancing on his armor and gathering in his fists before he jumped up and slammed them into the Kell's face, sending him reeling back. "Boom Bitch!" He shouted. "Sara!"

Sara ran forward as Void Light gathered in her palm as she glided up, and tossed her Nova Bomb, slamming it into the Kell. The Kell fell to the ground and roared. The cool air whipped up into a near localized blizzard.

"Alsyf!" She shouted as she stepped back. Alsyf grunted as he got up and started gathering solar energy. It was hair to see, and the high wind may push his arm so, he had to get in close. He ran ahead as the gathered solar energy started forming around his Hand Cannon. He jumped, and jumped again and grabbed onto the kell.

"Hey big guy!" He said. The Kell roared and he shoved his Golden Gun in his mouth. Alsyf could tell it burned.

"Aaand, good bye." He said and fired three shots rapidly, and the blizzard stopped as the Kell fell to his knees and went limp, and fell over. Alsyf sighed.

"Well, that's that." He said.

"Damn, that was brutal." Theoduin said.

"And?" Alsyf asked.

"Just saying, let's get outside. Let the cold melt off in the sun." She said. Theoduin looked around for anything to take as Alsyf grabbed a Saber and transmatted it.

As the group started to make their way out, their comms sprang to life with Cayde's voice.

"He-he-heeeey Fireteam Mythic. I know you're either on a mission or-oh, bad time?" He asked.

"Ahh no we're fine. Just took out the Kell." Sara said.

"Oh wow! I'm…wow that's really good damn." He said.

"What Cayde means to say is a job well done." Zavala said. "But we have an issue." He said.

"Go for it." Sara said.

"The House of Winter has procured a cell from the Prison of Elders, with an Archon Priest inside." Ikora said.

"Oh that's not good." Alsyf said.

"If it gets out and is, uncontested, the House of winter will become zealots. A Kell Priest." She continued.

"Fun fact, not to far if ya want more pay." Cayde added.

"We'll take the job." Theoduin said.

"Good. Be Brave Guardians. This Priest will be no push over." Zavala warned.

"We'll be fine. Mythic out." Sara said. The group left the ship to see several Fallen had gathered.

"Sara, I got the data, the door down there is our path to the Priest." Seraph said.

"Well then, let's go."

DWA: Heeeeeyyyy this is late. But I had fun with the fight. It was nice to put a spin on the Winter part of the house. Next up, an Archon Priest. See ya then!