The last of what's up There

Foreword: I'm SO sorry this chapter is as late as it is; this time it was not the fault of my beta-reader but rather my own. I've been such a special-ed kid recently as I just could not, for the life of me, find a way to write this chapter decently. I still don't know if I'm satisfied with what I've got but I hope it's enough. I make no promises but the rest of the story will be posted very soon.

Chapter Ten
The beginning of the end

Date: November 5th, 2555
Location: Gryphondale, capital city of the Griffon Empire
Individual: Commander Robert S. Crusher
Time:12:21 AM

"I'm so sorry, Gilda" Robert said over the radio after he and his Spartans had exited the sewers somewhere in the middle of Gryphondale; according to his data-pad they were two blocks from the capital building.

Once out the Commander had gotten back on the radio and told the Gilda about the note and body he had found.

They had made it through the sewers without incident, though the Commander had been unable to shake the image of Gilda's sister's body from his mind; despite not knowing the young Griffon he felt sorrow over her death, mostly from knowing that it was such an easy way out of the pain. Robert was flying all over Equestria and even into space fighting the Prometheans and it was taking quite the toll on his body and mind. It would be so easy to just press his pistol to the side of his head and...

No, he has to go on; he has to defeat the Prometheans to guarantee Equestria's future, or die trying, not by being a coward and killing himself.

But it'd be so easy...all the pain and suffering would end and you would finally be able to rest...

It'd be easy, sure, but what about the rest of those on this planet suffering at the hands of the Prometheans? The thousands of Griffons fighting and dying for their country? I have to keep fighting them the Commander thought back.

Robert shook these thoughts from his mind and got back on the radio, realizing that Gilda had been silent since he had told her the news.

"Gilda? Are you alright?" the Naval officer asked, concerned for the Griffon.

"I... Yes, I'm OK. But I can't cover you now, you're behind too many buildings. But I could come join you if you want" the Griffon sniper offered.

"No, you've done enough to help us. Get out of the city, Gilda, and find someplace to hide" Robert told her, continuing on his way to the capital building as his Spartans followed.

"Griffons don't hide, buddy" Gilda replied, her tone defensive.

"Well fine, but I would not advise staying in this city. Things are getting pretty ugly."

"Yeah...they are..."

Silence hung in the air for several seconds before Gilda spoke up again.

"Good luck, human...and goodbye" the Griffon sniper declared.

"Thanks; goodbye, Gilda. Stay safe out there, OK?" Robert suggested, waiting for a response from the Griffon.

He never got one.

"Come on, Spartans. Let's get to the capital building" the human declared as they got on their way.

Soon they reached the capital building, which by now was a bombed-out ruin, though the building was still standing. Just outside the building were the Elites and their Wraith tank, waiting for them.

"We need to hurry, human. The Griffons are falling fast and our combined forces aren't holding out much better" the Wraith pilot exclaimed.

Before the Commander could ask what he meant a tremendous explosion shook the city and the group looked up at the sky, watching a Sangheili supercarrier explode in the middle and begin to crash down to the surface of the planet.

The cause of this was the Prometheans' giant black sphere.

Fucking bastards Robert thought, turning to face his Spartans.

"Sir, Gryphondale is falling, perhaps we should evacuate" Spartan-035 stated. As much as Robert didn't like it he had to agree; Gryphondale was quickly being overrun by Prometheans and not even the Elites could stop them.

"We have to at least get the Griffon leader out of here. Spartans, come with me; the Elites can wait outside if they want, otherwise you can head back into the city and kill some Prometheans" the Commander said.

"I believe we will do the latter; good luck, human" the Wraith pilot responded.

Upon entering the capital building Crusher took in its beauty; the lobby was cavernous and sported a statue of a Griffon holding the flag of their empire, standing tall and proud over the room.

"Griffons sure like statues" Robert commented, admiring the rest of the lobby's beauty; the marble flow glistened, or it would've if most of the lights weren't broken. On the left and right side of the lobby were ramps leading up to the reception desk.

"OK, we'll need a map."

A quick search of the lobby provided one of both the first and second floor, which would make their search much easier. Checking the map for the leader's office which appeared to be in the rotunda at the top of the building.

"Fascinating" the Commander lamented, looking over his shoulder at the Spartans and saying "let's go."

The group proceeded through the building, taking detours when necessary as the building had been heavily damaged by Prometheans; the lack of Griffons within began making the Commander nervous that the Prometheans had come in and killed the Griffon leader.

Upon entering the second floor there was a tremendous explosion that shook the building, originating somewhere near the roof. Dust rained down from the ceiling making the Commander sneeze. Curious about the explosion the team went on their way, entering a staircase that would take them up to the rotunda and by extension the roof.

Reaching the top of the stairs Crusher opened the door and saw another staircase in front of him, heading up in a spiral shape. Looking down the naval officer saw a circular shaft descending into blackness, piquing his interest.

Heading up the staircase Robert and the Spartans entered the rotunda, seeing a hole blown in the side of the wall; papers and debris were scattered around the office, and the Griffon leader was nowhere to be seen.

"Perhaps he evacuated, or went out into the city to fight the Prometheans" Spartan-035 suggested, his comrades searching the office for any clues.

Losing interest in the office Commander Crusher stepped outside through the hole in the wall and saw that it had started raining, hard; sheets of the liquid falling and decreasing his visibility.

Suddenly there was an energy-based noise and a beam lanced over the Commander's head, making him duck and look over his shoulder just in time to see debris fall down over the hole and preventing him from heading back in.

He was alone on the roof.

Facing forward Robert shouldered his BR for the source of the laser, but found his visibility was naught in the heavy rain.

Slowly walking forward, his boots squelching the wet stone beneath them, the Commander approached what appeared to be small orange lights on the far side of the roof.

As he got closer to the lights an orange streak in the shape of a blade formed and a flaming skull became visible for a second, indicating a Promethean.

But it had not attacked him yet.

"Prisoner?" Crusher asked, cautiously approaching the Promethean, who, judging by the scratch on his mask and the Sangheili helmet on his shoulder, was indeed the Prisoner of Equestria.

"Prisoner. Why are you here?" Robert asked, keeping his BR trained on the Promethean warrior.

The Prisoner circled around the Commander, the two keeping their eyes on each other, before the ancient Forerunner warrior spoke.

"Reclaimer, we have sat waiting since time immemorial, and have realized that the Inheritors believe they will win this war with your help. This will never come to be, for our intent was never to destroy" the Prisoner said.

"What do you mean?" Robert asked, confused.

"The Librarian and Ecumene council always found a way to preserve the species that had challenged us and failed; though a species we had fought and defeated would not be allowed to join the empire we still preserved each and every one" the Prisoner explained.

"What are you going to do?" Crusher stated, tightening his grip on his BR.

"We invaded the Griffon homeland in search of a tool vital to our cause, a catalyst if you will, for the machinations we have. The Griffon leader held promise, but ultimately proved to be worthless. We exterminated him."

"What?!" the human exclaimed, unable to believe that he was too late.

"The search still continues, Reclaimer, and nothing can stop our goals; we will find what we need, and defeat you and the Inheritors" the Prisoner declared, slowly retreating from view as he went back to where he had been standing previously.

"Wait!"

The Commander rushed forward and suddenly a massive orange light shone over him, emanating from the black sphere as it rose into view from below, scanning the roof and the Commander with a sheet of light before rocketing away at an incredible speed.

Looking out over the city Robert saw that it had fallen, and the Griffons had been defeated.

Sighing in resignation the naval officer walked back to the rotunda just as the Spartans finished clawing their way through it.

"Sir, are you alright?"

"Let's just go..."

*-*-*

Commander Crusher stood on a hilltop with his Spartans looking down at Gryphondale, which was a flaming hellhole of death. Thousands of Griffons still in the streets fighting doomed battles against the Prometheans, and hundreds more wounded and dead soldiers that would be incinerated by the Prometheans. It appeared that the Prometheans were rounding up civilians and butchering them in the city center, performing some kind of ritual on each citizen before killing them.

It seemed they were looking for someone or something, possibly the catalyst for their plans.

"Should we help them, Sir?" Spartan-035 asked, turning to face the Commander who had a grim expression on his face.

"No, they're done for Spartan. The Griffons are finished" Robert said, taking a look through his binoculars in time to see a duo of young Griffons, probably sisters and looking to be around the age of nine were kicked from their hiding spot and killed by a Promethean.

Commander Crusher winced.

"The second greatest military in Equestria and the Prometheans walked right over them. If they did that to the Griffons then what chance do we have against them?" Crusher wondered aloud.

"What's the plan, Commander?" Spartan-035 inquired, drawing his BR85HB-SR over his shoulder.

"We need to return to the main continent, from there we can regroup and launch another attack against the Prometheans" Robert stated.

"Intel we've gathered suggests they're rounding up every pony they find and taking them to Canterlot Mountain" Spartan-035 told Commander Crusher.

"I can only imagine as to what they're doing to those poor souls" Robert commented, motioning for his Spartans to join him as they began the trek to the rendezvous point where the Pelican dropship was to be waiting for them.

On the way back in the drop-ship Robert began thinking about the war, and how it had been going very well for them in the past two months.

We were turning the tide...and then the Prometheans return in full force and strike back. How the hell did they do that?

The Commander couldn't answer his own questions, and nobody else had any answers either.

The Griffons are down, the Canines are going fast...and the Dragons are already done for. I also heard the Zebras and Crystal Ponies were hit...probably nothing left of them now. Which leaves just the regular ponies and us Commander Crusher mused.

The last two remaining species in Equestria, and the Prometheans were coming at them strong.

I need to find the Prisoner of Equestria and stop his cycle of destruction.

But to do that the Commander needed to first find the Prisoner.

"Spartans...I've got a plan: we need to mount an assault on Canterlot Mountain and find out what the Prometheans are doing with their captives down there" Commander Crusher declared.

"Understood, Sir. We got your back" Spartan-035 responded.

"Sir, you might want to come up here and take a look at this!" the pilot of the Pelican said from up in the cockpit, prompting Robert to stand and see what had the pilot so alarmed.

All of Equestria was burning.

Literally all of the pony land was on fire; forests and hills raging infernos and entire towns awash in flames that sucked the oxygen from the air and incinerated everything in their path.

Only a select few spots had yet to be affected by the fires, including the spot New Ponyville used to occupy and the stretch of land leading to Canterlot Mountain.

Of course Canterlot Mountain wasn't on fire either.

"Take us to the base, we need to call for reinforcements and rally our forces" Commander Crusher ordered the pilot.

"Yes, Sir!"

The Pelican banked to the right and dipped down, quickly reaching the base where they touched down and those aboard disembarked; the Spartans proceeding to the Command Center while Robert checked on Spike.

"Sir, do you think the Commander is thinking lucidly?" the only female Spartan in the squad inquired once they were inside the Center.

"What would make you think otherwise?" Spartan-035 replied.

"He was very close to the civilian Twilight Sparkle, and is very close to the civilian Spike the Dragon; what if his attachment to these civilians jeopardizes our missions? He already had to kill the one and it's clear he's suffering as a result" the female Spartan stated.

"The Commander may have been close to these civvies, but I think his mind is clear enough to fulfill any mission parameters he sets" Spartan-035 assured them.

"Of course, Sir."

*-*-*

"Why couldn't you save me, Robert? We were friends, I trusted you, I loved you...and you failed me...why couldn't you save me?"Twilight Sparkle's voice echoed through the Commander's head as he slept, torturing him with its tone.

"Why couldn't you save me?!"Twilight's voice screamed, fading as she herself faded from view, falling down into a black abyss until she could be seen no more.

"It's your fault..."

Commander Robert Crusher awoke instantly and screamed "NOOO!", shooting upright in his bed in a cold sweat.

Robert looked over at his clock which displayed the time of 3:43 AM, prompting him to stand out of bed and exit his quarters and proceed down the hall to the Command Center.

"What's our situation?" Commander Crusher asked as he tightened his collar and approached the communications station, seeing several personnel eyeing him in concern; his appearance was weathered and raggedy.

"I asked a question: what is our situation?" the Commander growled.

"Sir, all UNSC forces within a 21 mile radius have reported in; total military strength is 25 Scorpion Main Battle Tanks, 120 Warthogs in the standard, Gauss, and rocket variants, 200 Mongoose All Terrain Vehicles, 17 Pelican dropships, and three Longsword fighters that escaped from an airbase" the comms officer, a Major named Mark Grimesy* explained.

"That's it? Well, I suppose it will be enough to make a push on Canterlot Mountain. How are the communications looking? Can we get a message to the UNSC or Elites?" Robert inquired.

"Yes, Sir, communications have been cleared and you are ready to send a message when you wish" Major Grimesy answered.

Robert complied and hit the necessary key, preparing to record his request for reinforcements.

Just as the Commander was about to record the message the lights dimmed and powered back up, a strange symbol displayed on all the screens in the control room of the Command Center.

"What the...oh, no" Robert exclaimed.

Suddenly a voice boomed from the loudspeakers, Commander Crusher recognizing it as the voice of the Prisoner of Equestria.

"Reclaimers, our time is now. We have begun the final stages of exacting our revenge on the people of Equestria. The Griffons are extinct...the Canines are extinct...the Zebras are extinct...the Crystal Ponies are extinct...all that remains are the Inheritors, and you: the Reclaimers. This is but the beginning of the end, Reclaimers, and nothing you can do will impede us in fulfilling our goals" the Prisoner boomed.

"I have a bad feeling about this..." Crusher said.

"It is beginning...it is end...it is time for the last remnants of the Forerunner Empire to reap revenge for what was wrought upon us by the Inheritors thousands of years ago" the Prisoner exclaimed.

"It is time, for the Reclamation."

"Oh shit, that's bad... Order an evacuation, we need to get the hell out of here NOW!" Commander Crusher ordered, rushing out of the Command Center and to the barracks where his Spartan team and Spike were resting.

"Spartans, get up! We're leaving!" Robert yelled, turning the lights on and running to the back to wake Spike while the Spartans quickly came to and gathered their weapons and other gear.

"Hmm, Robert? What's going on?" Spike asked, confused as to why he had been awoken and why the Commander was in such a hurry.

"The Prometheans have started something they call the Reclamation, and I think it's something bad. We need to get out of here, before they show up and begin this Reclamation" the Commander explained.

Just then the barracks shook from the intensity of an explosion near the base, caused by the Prometheans and their spherical Sentinel which had come knocking.

"They're here... Come on, let's go!" Robert yelled, grabbing Spike and rushing out of the barracks with his Spartan team.

The Prometheans were everywhere, blasting everyone they saw and their Sentinel shooting down every aircraft it saw and obliterating every Warthog and Scorpion that came out.

"All UNSC forces, retreat from this outpost and head for Canterlot Mountain, we're ending this once and for all" Robert ordered over the radio.

"Beta-669, this is Commander Robert Crusher, we need immediate extraction at the front gates of the base!"

"But, Sir... Nevermind. I'm on my way, Commander" the pilot responded.

"We're gonna get you someplace safe from the Prometheans, Spike, and then we're going to take care of these evil bastards" Crusher told the baby Dragon, who was the last of his species.

"No place is safe, apparently. They're everywhere!" Spike exclaimed just as Beta-669 came around and swooped down to ground level, dropping its rear ramp to allow them aboard.

"We're in, GO!" Robert commanded, taking a seat as the Pelican took off, the pilot dodging fire from the Sentinel.

It truly was the beginning of the end, though Commander Robert Crusher had a different end in mind.

*-*-*

*This is a relative of Christopher Grimesy, the hard-ass Sergeant from the first story.

Author's note: it's the beginning of the end, and what an end it's gonna be. The next few chapters will blow your mind.

Legal note: Commander Robert Crusher, Spartan-035, and all related characters belong to me. Spike the Dragon belongs to Hasbro. My Little Pony belongs to Hasbro. Halo belongs to 343 Industries.