A/N: Hi, everyone! Ashleigh here and I finally get to dive into this story I've been waiting to do!

So, as wild as my imagination is, I saw the Halo Legends short, "The Duel" and thus this happened. Months of planning and I'm ready to finally write this. Warning for the Chief being a little OOC at times!

This story is from Katerina's POV, with the (almost) entire walkthrough of Halo 2 and 3. I hope you guys find her story interesting as she replaces Thel Vadam in this story!

So sit back and enjoy the (short) first chapter! :)

Genre: Friendship/Romance/Angst/Action/Family


Halo Katerina Duran - "Make It Last: Of Trust and Friendship"


Location: Council Chamber, High Charity
October 20
th, 2552

"You were right to focus your attention on the Flood, but this demon, this 'Master Chief'…"

"By the time I knew of the demon's intent, there was nothing I could do."

The sound of displeasure from the Council could almost deafen Katerina Duran. Even so, she could hear the thumping of her own heart. The Elite stood before the three High Prophets, her head low and her fists clutched tightly, trying her hardest to draw out the noises. How she wished she could just fade away right now.

To her right, not very far, stood the Brute Chieftain Tartarus, with his massive arms across his chest. He chuckled audibly to himself, to make sure Katerina could hear it. She narrowed her cat-like violet eyes at him. Watch it…

"You are one of our most treasured instruments," She glanced up at that voice. The Prophet of Truth. Oh, how she often fantasized about shutting that mouth up permanently. She would have to live long enough to do it. "Long have you led your fleet with honor and distinction. But your inability to safeguard Halo..."

Here it comes…

"… Was a colossal failure."

"Noble Hierarch, I-"

Then she heard a new voice, one that came from an unknown direction. "Nay! It was heresy!"

And the next thing she knew, a chorus of upset roars filled the Council Chamber. This was bad. Really, really bad. Katerina knew that and she was shaking. If the entire Council thinks that her failure should be deemed as heresy, then this was going to be the end.

One last attempt. "Noble Hierarch, what I did was unforgivable, yes, I admit to that. I failed to stop the demon! I failed to execute him! But please, I beg of you, let me continue my campaign against the humans!"

"No," She fell silent at Truth's bellow. "You will not…"

Katerina witnessed him turning his head toward Tartarus and nodding at the beast. With a single growl from him, two Brutes made their way to her. She shrugged them off with a killer look. "Do not touch me." She said in a hiss, turning her back on the Prophets, knowing for sure that this was the end.

"Soon the Great Journey shall begin," As she made her way out with those Brutes following her, she shut her eyes in great annoyance, hoping to drown out the voice of the High Prophet. However his words were so… piercing. "But when it does, the weight of your heresy will stay your feet," He made sure to pause just a little, and then finish off with one last statement in a voice grimmer than usual. "And you shall be left behind..."

She looked up and opened her eyes once more, but only to see where she was going. Without even glancing around, she could feel the satisfactory from most of the Council members. It felt sickening.

As she reached the main doors of the Council Chambers, she spotted the one Elite she was hoping to see before heading to her fate.

"Dar…" She said in a whisper.

Darius had the most dismayed expression known to anyone. Katerina could sense that her son wanted to stop all of this. Perhaps even grab his mother's hand and run off, judging by this stand. Was it worth it, mother?

She easily sensed that question, but she was still thinking about the answer, even as she exited the chamber.