[b][u]Chapter 6: Into the Jungle (2/2)[/u][/b] After picking up a few supplies from Artemis' old home, Campus-9, they arrived at the Endless Steps. A ravine seperated the plateau they stood on and the stone meca that supported the massive Vex Gate at the summit. A winding trail that led down into the ravine was set to their right, but it was crawling with Vex who fortunately hadn't seen them yet. "There," Ghost spoke, motioning towards the ravine. "The Seal is in a cave at the bottom. I strongly suggest we avoid detection." Artemis nodded in agreement, and was about to begin the treacherous descent when a bright flash caught her eye. It came from the summit, right in front of the gate. "What was that?" she asked. "I'm not sure what that is, but I'm pretty sure they just saw us!" Ghost spoke, panic creeping into his voice. "I remember that flash..." Artemis kept staring in its direction. "We have to check it out!" "What? No! We have a mission to do! Don't get distracted!" Artemis was about to argue when a sudden movement out of the corner of her eye caught her attention. The Vex were teleporting up the slope! She cursed. "Damn! We're running out of time!" she turned to Ghost. "Look, I know this mission is important, but I need to know what happened! Are you with me?" Ghost reluctantly nodded. "Good, let's go!" she took a running leap and cleared the ravine with ease, landing in a crouch on the other side, then sprinted up the steps. Ghost shook his head. "I've got a bad feeling about this." he followed, catching up to her at the top of the steps. She was staring at the source of the flash. It was a sword, embedded in the ground. Ghost squinted at it. "Does that belong to who I think it does?" "Yes." Artemis nodded. "It's his sword, Raze-Lighter..." "This is totally a trap." Ghost sighed. Artemis ignored him and reached for the sword. "Sure, just disregard what I say as usual." Artemis gripped the sword and gasped as memories flooded her mind. [i]Artemis sparred with her brother. Their swords flashed as he slashed at her with Raze-Lighter, which she lazily parried with her Void Edge. "Come on sister!" her brother grinned. "You're not even trying to beat me!" the Sunsinger Warlock quickly parried a flurry of strikes from an irritated Artemis. "You're never going be better with a sword than I am if you are always distracted." "What is the point to this exactly?" she rolled her eyes. "You're the master of the sword, I'm the master of the bow. Why bother messing with the formula?" "Funny, I thought I was the master of the sword and the bow." he quickly parried another blow from Artemis. "You've been staring at the sun too long Apollo." Artemis flashed a rare grin. "But i'll humor you, i'll prove that I am superior with the sword." Their blades clashed again and again for a long time. And then the mysterious man entered their lives, and their whole world fell apart.[/i] Artemis' eyes opened in shock. The sword had brought out a memory she hadn't thought of in over a century. But now was not the time for reminiscing. She could faintly hear Ghost screeching in her ear. "I told you it was a trap! But did you listen? No, you did not!" Artemis was confused, what was the trap? She looked down, and saw that she was standing in the centre of the ring. The activation ring used to open up the Vex Gate.‎ She cursed herself. "Apophis. He put this here, lured me in." Artemis watched as the gate began to open. "He wanted me to be the one to set him free." With little effort she pulled Raze-Lighter out of the ground. "But not today. Ghost, begin recording." As Artemis finished recording her message the gate fully opened, and Apophis filled the gate, or rather his serpentine head did. The Chronovore's head was three stories tall, his cobra hood hammered out of dozens of goblins heads, his fangs shaped like a Hobgoblins line rifle, but thrice as long. His glowing red eyes burned with fire. "End transmission." Artemis and Ghost turned to face Apophis. "Once i'm gone, seal the gate." she drew Shadowshot and fired a volley of arrows, tethering the serpent. "I don't want to find a third Guardian." Ghost muttered solemnly. "I'm getting tired of showing them the ropes." Artemis shadestepped out of the way as Apophis reared his head back then slammed it down, sinking his teeth into the ground she had been standing on. "Well you're going to have to do that, and Ghost?" he turned to see Artemis smiling for the first time in a decade. "Thanks, for everything." Apophis roared, then created a vacuum, sucking in everything, even the ground itself. Artemis stabbed Raze-Lighter into the ground and hung on for dear life, quickly grabbing Ghost before he was sucked in as well. "Goodbye old friend." Artemis whispered, then threw Ghost with all her might. She pulled Raze-Lighter out of the ground and let the vacuum pull her towards the serpent. "For the light!" she screamed. Apophis eyes widened as he saw Artemis hurtle towards him with vengeance in her eyes, swinging Raze-Lighter in a blazing phoenix uppercut! She cut upwards, slicing through his maw. Her momentum knocked them both into the portal. With its gateway cleared of occupants, the gate closed, and the Endless Steps were silent. _______________________________________ [i]To be concluded.[/i] Part 1: http://www.bungie.net/en/Forum/Post/163945468/0/0 Epilogue: http://www.bungie.net/en/Forum/Post/164256691/0/0 Table of Contents: https://www.bungie.net/en/Forum/Post/114713352/0/0