Halo 2: Shadowed pasts and Ancient Runes

Chapter 16: Revelations
Planet Earth October 17, 2552
1933 Hours

"The Flood! It's spreading all over the city." Miranda confirmed. Nathan just watched out the window as the beasts and monsters hulked their way through Voi, tearing apart defensive lines and soldiers like they were tissue paper. He cringed and looked away.

"How do we contain it?" Hood asked. Miranda looked to Nathan, who she knew had an answer.

"Tell him I'll join the fight. We head for the ship and overload its reactor." He said, grabbing his gun off his back. Miranda nodded and grabbed the radio again.

"Find the crashed Flood ship, overload its engine core. We either destroy this city, or risk losing the entire planet." There was a long pause after that. The two weren't sure if Lord Hood heard her. She went to radio again when it crackled to life.

"Do it." Was all Hood said. Miranda frowned and looked out the window. She could see the Master Chief and Arbiter below, leaving the destroyed AA battery and heading for the city.

"Chief. Make your way to the crash sight." She ordered. The Chief clicked his mic in confirmation and sprinted into the city.

Miranda turned when she heard the door into the cargo hold of the Pelican open. "Where are you going?" She asked. Nathan half turned his head and cradled his helmet.

"To finish a war I started long ago." He confirmed. He slid his helmet back on and shut the door behind him. Miranda continued to stare at it with longing eyes. She couldn't help but feel saddened by his changes

She knew that this would happen. The war destroys another person. She knew him before the war perverted his innocence, but to him, that was a lifetime ago. She sighed and flew into the main part of the city, wondering what Nathan meant by 'finish a war I started'.

"Hail Humans, and take heed! This is the carrier, Shadow of Intent. Clear this sector, while we deal with the Flood."

Nathan turned back to the cabin and smiled. "You heard the Shipmaster, Miranda. Get out of here." Nathan called out over the roar of the wind. He looked back down at the Covenant drop pods, the Elites inside bursting out for battle. He took a deep breath and dove into the fight.

The air whipped at his armor and he could feel the tug of the G forces. He heard the rush of wind pass his auditory sensors. He may have hated heights, but the feeling of free fall was good for the adrenaline. It would heighten his senses for the battle to come.

Nathan flipped and landed on the ground at an angle, his momentum causing him to roll. He stood in a crowd of Flood and Elites, locked in an epic battle of brawn.

Nathan pulled his AR out and smashed it into the flood spore in a poor former human. The body slumped to the ground and began to deflate. More Flood jumped up from below and joined the fray. Nathan jumped as something went against his back. He turned to see a crimson Elite staring at him.

"Hmm, Demon. Good of you to join the fray!" He said, clicking his jaws. Nathan smiled and went back to back with the Elite. The two were the last ones standing. The Crimson soldiers former squad now shambling husks of grotesque flesh.

"Well, if they take us, lets make sure they have to fight for it, hmm?" Nathan asked. The Elite nodded and withdrew two energy swords.

"This will be a battle hymn for ages to come!" He roared, charging into the mass of bodies. Nathan burst forward as well, shooting anything and every bad memory in his way. But they weren't alone. Nathan could hear the sounds of SMG fire and a Carbine on the platform above. He turned to see the Master Chief and Arbiter, in their position above the battlefield.

"By the gods, Arbiter!" The Elite called out, slicing a former Brute in twain. The Arbiter and the Chief ran down the slope, careful not the fall into the abyss below. The Arbiter walked forward, the crimson Elite meeting him halfway.

"My brother. I fear you bring bad news?" He asked. The Majordomo Elite nodded.

"High Charity has fallen, become a wretched hive!" He confirmed.

"And the fleet, has quarantine been broken?" The Arbiter asked.

"A single ship broke through our line, and we gave chase." Confirmed the Majordomo

"We had a fleet of hundreds!" The Arbiter yelled, shocked by the revelation.

"Alas brother...the Flood. It has evolved!"

Nathan shot a glance at the Chief. He hadn't seen anything different about the Flood here. If anything, they were more tame than the ones he encountered back in the Forerunner structure. This was a cake walk!

Another shriek echoed through the large chasm below. Nathan turned as another wave of Flood assaulted the four. Nathan shot an Elite in the midsection, severing it in two, Master Chief and the Arbiter smashed the next two into large puddles before they could even land, and the Majordomo stabbed the last.

Through the whole fight, however, Nathan could hear a small voice echoing in the back of his mind. It was almost imperceptible, something he wouldn't have noticed if he wasn't listening.

With more Flood, it was on his mind the whole time.

"Hey, Chief." Nathan yelled. John turned as Nathan jogged up. "Has their been any, I don't know, Gravemind problems?" He asked.

John took a step back. How did this kid know what a Gravemind was? How could he know about the Flood? John assumed he had already encountered it, seeing as how the man didn't ask what they were, or freak out like every other soldier who has encountered them before. John wanted answers, and he wanted them now.

But, before he could ask anything, another shriek came from all around, accompanied by Flood of different sizes and shapes.

"Great. Here we go again..."

Twilight felt a large plush pillow beneath her head and the warmth of a blanket. She slowly opened her eyes and was met by the ambient glow of the fireplace in Princess Celestia's room. She didn't know how she got there, but it didn't matter at that point. She slowly got into a sitting position and nearly fell back down when she was assaulted by her friends. All of them were there! Applejack, Rarity, Fluttershy, Pinkie Pie, Shining Armor, Cadence and Bill. Although, she expected Cam and Rainbow not to be there to greet her...

"How's Cam and Rainbow Dash?" Twilight asked. Bill frowned and shook his head, as did the other girls. Twilight got a look of horror on her face. "Is Cam-"

Bill held up a hand and smiled. "Relax. He's in the intensive care ward. He's being looked after by great doctors. However, he's in a coma now. They don't know if he'll wake up."

Twilight's head sunk and she felt so bad for Rainbow Dash. That poor mare never wanted mushy relationship stuff before Nathan and the others got here. But, since she met Cam? Well, that was an entirely different story. She noticed a spark in Dash's eyes she'd never seen before when she first saw him. He couldn't die.

For her sake, he had to live.

Twilight got to her hooves and fell to the ground. "Let's go check on them." She said with a smile. Applejack, however, placed a firm hoof on her shoulder.

"After what ah heard happened to you? Sorry, sugar cube. You need your rest." She said sternly, trying to get Twilight into the bed. She shook her friend off however and continued towards the door.

"Where are the Princesses?" Twilight asked, grabbing her saddle bag from the table. Bill jerked his thumb towards the window.

"They're helping with the cleanup. A lot of places got hit pretty bad. Ponyville, fortunately, didn't get hit as bad as places like Manehatten. Or Canterlot. This city is pretty much totaled." He said sadly.

Twilight looked out the window and frowned. Half of the city- Her city- was completely demolished. 90% of the buildings laid in ruins. Citizens cleaned the ruble and dragged out the bodies of those buried underneath. It was a horrid sight which turned Twilight's blood to ice.

"Any casualty reports yet?" She asked. Bill hung his head.

"Not yet, but Almya estimates it to be well in... the six thousand range..." He whispered. Everyone stared on in disbelief, but Twilight had expected that. She turned to Shining Armor and frowned.

"What about our parents?" She asked him. He gave her a warm smile and nodded.

"They're fine. Don't worry." He assured. He looked her over and frowned. "Twilly, your pale as a ghost. You need to get back to bed." He said, trying to usher her back into the Princess' chambers.

Twilight cringed as a searing pain shot through her stomach. Not one to want to lay down when things need to be done, she flat out refused. Besides, Cam was in terrible shape. She'd have to do something to save his life.

"I'll rest later. Right now, I want to see Cam." She said, walking down the halls. Shining Armor sighed and looked to Cadence, who gave him a knowing smile.

"She'll be okay. Let's just take her to see her friend." She said sweetly. Shining nodded and trotted up next to his sister.

Leading Twilight through the medical wing was hard. So many soldiers were either dead, dying or wounded around them. It didn't make it better that the families were there to claim the bodies, so the place was echoing with the cries and screams of family and friends.

Rainbow Dash was sitting in the hall, her ears hung low. "Rainbow? How is he?" Shining Armor called out, trotting up beside her. She didn't even look up.

"He's still in a coma. The doctors don't know if he'll ever wake up..." She sniffed. Bill couldn't stand to see them upset. He'd known Cam his whole life. No way was this going to keep him down, and he made a point to tell them all just that.

"Don't worry everyone. Cam's been hit a hundred times worse than this plenty of times. He'll pull through, not to worry." He said happily. Everyone seemed to ease a bit and the tension in the room seemed to melt away.

Almya whispered into Bills speakers, feeling a little bit confused. "Bill? Why did you lie to them?" She asked. He just grunted and walked into the room, taking a seat next to Cam. The wound on his head was still open, and looked bad. Brute Spikers could pack a wallop.

Twilight guided Rainbow Dash to a chair in the hall just outside Cam's room, hoping to help ease her pain. She had a plan, and she wanted to include Rainbow in it.

"Do you want to help him with me?" She asked quietly. Rainbow perked up and nodded vigorously.

"How? What can you do that the doctors haven't tried already?" She asked. Twilight smiled and looked over to Cam.

"I know a spell that will put us in his mind. If we find him in his subconsciousness, we'll bring him back, okay? I promise." She promised.

Rainbow smiled, but quickly frowned. "But, how can you bring me? I can't use magic." She pouted. Twilight smiled.

"Just hold on to me, I'll take care of the rest." She assured. Rainbow began to tear and hugged her lavender friend tight.

"Thank you, Twilight. I don't know how I can ever thank you." She practically sobbed. Twilight held her friend up high.

"Thank me when we save him, alright?" She chuckled. Rainbow smiled and rubbed her neck. They walked into the room, to see everyone talking to the doctor, tears in some of their eyes. Twilight looked to Rainbow and walked over.

"Um. What's going on doctor?" She asked. The Doctor frowned and whispered in her ear.

"He doesn't have much time. His brain functions are slowly deteriorating. Pretty soon it'll affect the control center of his brain. His breathing functions will ultimately cease... There's nothing more we can do for him..."

Twilight frowned. "What if he were to wake up? would that save him?" She asked. The doctor looked at his chart, then back to her.

"I don't know... He's completely brain dead right now. He'll never wake up on his own." He sighed.

"I intend to fix that..." She thought hopefully.

The doctor left the room and left the group alone. "Rainbow? Come on. It's time." Twilight called out. Rainbow ran over and grabbed on to Twilight's back.

"Whoa, Nelly! What are y'all planning on doing?" Applejack asked. Twilight didn't answer. Her horn began to glow a bright purple. She began to lower it to Cam's head, the light only getting brighter.

"Twilight? What are you planning?" Bill asked, grabbing her shoulder. In an instant, he was surrounded by a blinding purple glow and he felt his body dematerialize around him.

In another instant, he fell flat on his back. He saw nothing but white as his vision tried to return. "Ugh. What in the world..." He began. He sat up, but couldn't quite understand why her was where he was.

"Why the fuck am I back on Reach...?"