Darst and the other elites had arrived at the armory near the Grand Atrium out front. The former Covenant Zealot opened the door, so quickly that it slammed against the wall and a sharp and recently forged sword fell onto the ground. Kino noticed it, so he turned around and pointed at one of the others for a quick job.

"Tesk, if you pick that up I'll hand your Needler and another weapon" Darst was willing enough to return the young warrior's weapon if this was done. Tesk smiled and nodded, running over to the sword and hanging back on its original spot.

Whilst he did that, Kino walked over to the large pile of high tech weapons. Rifles, launchers, pistols, a few sniper like guns of all sorts. He spotted Raskar's Needler on a lone table, the same goes for everyone else's Plasma rifles. Darst looked back to the pile and smiled as he saw the perfect secondary weapon for Tesk.

"Hey boy, catch" the Zealot called for his attention, then throwing the Needler and a Needle rifle at Tesk.

He easily caught the Needler in his right hand but when he saw the incoming rifle, he panicked and just caught the gun within the grasp of his arms. He almost stabbed himself in his left leg, as the needles protruding out of the top just missed him by inches.

"Woah, too close…what am I supposed to do with this? I don't have any experience with a Needle rifle sire. To that extent, I'll be driving the Locust anyway" Tesk wasn't refusing the weapon but he knows he wouldn't do any good with it.

"Those Brutes know that the Locust will do tremendous damage if they don't destroy it quickly, they can and will destroy it as soon as they see it. And when they do…" Darst took hold of his Energy sword, activating the blade to ensure himself it still worked, as well taking a blue colored Concussion rifle from the pile, one that he himself done, "You better hope that the whole thing doesn't blow up with you inside it" he finished the sentence.

Tesk felt chills run down his spine. He wasn't ready to die in a fiery explosion.

"You'll be fine Tesk; stay focused about the situation and try to work it out" Veartra laid her left hand on his right shoulder. He curved his around and saw her face, bringing a sense of comfort and a small stretch confidence.

His swiftly swung back to the front, actually shying away from her, "Thanks Veartra…" he said with a low tone of voice. She raised a brow, wondering why Tesk turned away from her so fast. She still smiled at him though.

"Still, what about the Needle rifle?" Raskar asked is Zealot superior about the other needle weapon. Darst placed 5 power cells for the Concussion rifle around his waist.

"You seem to be fond of needle weapons. Besides, 3 of them into a Brute and he'll die in a pink mist. I'm sure you'll do something creative with that thing" Kino chuckled lightly.

He noticed a Spiker within the pile of technological murder equipments, but it wasn't just any Spiker, it was the same one that Darst himself used against Arbiter, but shot Cynder when she flew in front of Thel, saving his life and almost getting killed for it. Darst knew that day, as he was punched in the face by the Arbiter, these Dragons were more than just winged reptile like creatures. They had their own culture, their own way of life, their very own history.

To shoot who is now one of Thel's closest and currently alive friends is punishable by all sorts of torment. Darst is going to make sure he'll never live with that guilty conscience.

"Let's see if those bastards like their own weapons turned against" he placed the Spiker on left thigh, deactivating his energy sword to rest it on the opposite side. He wanted to kill as many Brutes as possible with each of his chosen weapons. Before turning back to his comrades, he swiped 4 Spiker clips, then attached them to his waist also.

"Grab what you like my Sangheili brethren, and take plenty of ammo and grenades with you" Darst stepped outside, letting the others choose whatever they want except for Tesk, who's already equipped his arsenal.

Sarvasu went in first, followed by Tetrestu and Veartra. Before Ventor entered, he looked at Darst to ask him a quick question, at that moment, Tesk squeezed in between them to get out.

"How come you're not carrying grenades yourself?" the captain asked his Zealot commander.

"A Concussion rifle makes up for it, an upgraded one…hasn't the boy got a sword?"Darst has noticed that Tesk has never carried an Energy sword with him. Ventor let a long deep breath before speaking.

"He was trained using plasma rifles and plasma pistols, but when it came to his sword training…he failed it" he shook his, looking up to Kino's mandible drooped face.

Darst sighed, "You know that every boy who hasn't passed his sword training yet cannot join the military, don't you?" he crossed his arms with narrowed down eyes.

The somewhat guilty Ventor lowered his head in shame, "I know that Darst…but it was during the time when everyone was needed for the invasion against Earth as well as the Great Schism. He has the potential, but it won't show".

"It's ok. He'll be driving a Locust, as long as he can drive that, it's fine by me. After this whole battle blows over, I'll show him how to properly wield a blade" Darst assured the one handed captain.

"That's if we do make it through this battle…as well as if we all survive" Ventor continued into the armory, passing Veartra who was leaving with a Beam rifle in her hands, her Energy sword on her right thigh and carrying two plasma grenades.

"I'm surprised you know how to use a blade miss" Darst smirked at her.

"Females can choose whether they want sword training or not, most don't though since they expect a male to fight they're battles. I knew it was gonna come in handy some day I'm a little bit rusty though" Mevlos looked down at the handle that will summon the energy to spill the blood of her enemies tomorrow, if she can make it happen.

"That's fine, we need all the help we can get…Ventor, while you're in there, grab that blue upgraded Fuel rod and that green Needler, I'll take it to the Grunts" Kino was going to deliver the Jabjab's and Yapflop's gear to them in person. They needed a quick check up anyway.

Sarvasu was going all out frontline trooper style with a non-upgraded Carbine, a Plasma Repeater, his sword, a plasma grenade and even a Brute spike grenade. It caught Tetrestu's eyes by surprise.

"A Brute grenade Sarv?" Tet stared at him, squad member to squad member.

Sarvasu turned around to respond with a confident attitude, "I figured it would come in handy sometime tomorrow, gotta use everything we can muster…you're slowly to let out you're voice now" Sarv smirked.

A respectful huff left Tetrestu's gapped mouth as he lifted up a Plasma Launcher and took an upgraded red colored plasma pistol. His blade was already at his left thigh even during dinner.

Ventor was going to make his weapon visit quick, taking a normal plasma rifle and his blade. The loss of his left hand made it hard for him to carry rifles and heavy launcher like weapons, and throwing grenades is going to be bit tougher without a good left throwing arm, but as he said before, it wasn't going to interfere with combat.

Done with weapon shopping, Odesa threw the Grunt's weapons one by one. Darst easily caught the deadly but very Grunt touched weapons he personally tuned up.

"By the way Kino, what are the upgraded ones exactly improve upon other than a slight appearance change?" Veartra asked her superior officer in charge.

"They can fire a continuous amount of ammo without reloading; instead they have a cool down timer for if they overheat. Their batteries last for 24 hours and the ones that cause explosions make a bigger boom. That's my definition of upgrade" Darst smiled proudly to himself.

"Have you tested them out?" Tesk asked. Kino's smile suddenly went away.

"Well…not exactly…but think of tomorrow's battle as a field test" the Zealot shrugged his shoulders.

"Yeah, and the targets shoot back at us with real guns and grenades and tanks and other dangerous goodies…" Veartra shook her head as this 'field test' could just be as dangerous as the Brutes if these upgraded weapons are too backfire. The consequences for the user would go from a near mild singed hand to a dismembered corpse, depending on the weapon.

"Oh…perfect" Tesk frowned upon her words.

"(Sigh) By the gods…well let's just hope they don't have any repercussions then. I suggest we all get a good night's sleep, head inside the Atrium, ask the moles for a room and enjoy the rest while it lasts. But first" Ventor walked up in front of Darst, "Thel spoke about Plasma sentry cannons…where would they be?" Odesa wanted the auto gun's location.

"He left them in cases, onboard the Phantom I think…what do you want with them?" Kino a one brow raised, wondering what the red armored Sangheili plan was.

"I thought we can give the Brutes a nice surprise for if they break through the front gates. They're a solid addition to the defense and we must use them" he turned his back to Darst and walked away from the group to where the vehicles were. He thought he'd quickly do it before he goes to bed.

"Fine, but don't be too long then!" Kino had quickly shouted out to his one handed comrade.

"What about Thel then? And those two Dragons? Not to also mention the Grunts and Hunters?" Sarvasu asked about the others of their group.

"Thel will be fine, he seems to like the night. The Hunters can stay awake all night to keep watch and the Grunts might as well fall asleep next to them. Spyro went to go to bed but I don't know about Cynder, probably spending time with Thel before she heads off" the crimson elite curved his head around, "You can all leave now. I'll see every one of you in the morning. I must give little Jabjab and Yapflop their guns" he needed go to the front gates and deliver the weapons. All the Sangheili nodded then walked up the stairs to enter the front doors of the Atrium.

They were finally ready to battle the Brutes in defense of Warfang. The moles were ready, the cheetahs were ready and the former Covenant group was ready. Anything could happen tomorrow though. Even with all these upgrades and defenses, were they strong enough to defeat an entire Jiralhanae battalion of killers and murder machines?

For now, it doesn't matter as the night was still covering the skies and the breeze was still coming and going. Thel was spending what may be his last night with the black dragoness, his closest companion, a relationship he had with her but not in that way. He was sitting still against the tree whilst she lay next to him, resting her left wing over the exposed parts of his armor, giving him a little bit of warmth.

They were both looking up at the dark sky; the moons were the light of the night, the stars acting like small bright dots to cover the rest of the gapped space. Cynder sighed in relief and silent joy. She always loved the peace, but she also asked herself questions about what lies beyond what she saw everyday. So much to explore and discover and yet she can't see it due to the limitations of her species and everyone else around her. Except for Thel though, for he has seen some of the wonders beyond her world.

Remembering what he told her though, it seemed like life was easier here than almost anywhere else. Suddenly, she felt Vadam sliding his right hand along her back, caressing along her body length and making her tail slither across the grass. Her words then came to interfere the silence.

"Thel, do you still remember when we first met?" she looked up to him with a soft smile.

His mandibles made that same Sangheili smile, "It was just a few days ago, of course I remember" he lowered his head to meet her emerald gaze. It seemed like his orange and black slit eyes could never look as good as the ones Cynder had but they suited him anyway.

"He he…it feels a lot longer than just a few days though…" Cyn looked down on the grass between her paw noticing a little ladybug climbing to the apex of a piece of the ground leaves. It flew away in front of her then in front of Thel, just noticing the little orange insect.

"What do you want?" he narrowed his eyes down the ladybug, scared off by his voice, "Ok then…".

Cynder giggled, keeping her mouth stayed shut but the shaking from her body told Thel she was laughing, so there was no way to really contain it. She stopped when he nudged her right forearm in response.

"Ow, was that really necessary?" she lightly snapped at him. She could hear the low base noises from inside his chest, which his laughter was taking place. She snuck her scythe tail tip to Thel's bottom, where only the straps of his armor resided.

He felt a slight jolt of shocking pain all of a sudden, "AGH!" jumping up, startled and surprised. He turned around and saw the steel silver scythe weapon, "Cynder, that's tender! I didn't use a blade on you did I?" he had to rub where she got him, as it started to itch.

"Tender? I expected Jabjab to say something like that" her gleaming teeth were exposed laughing from her antic against Thel.

"I think he already has…or was it Yapflop…never mind, that really isn't important…" he sat back against the tree, giving Cyn little warning to remove her tail tip.

"(Sigh) Still that was pretty funny" the dragoness rolled onto her backside, having enough of her belly area getting a bit wet from the grass.

"Speak for yourself" Thel smirked at her.

"But Thel…" her joyful laughter and innocent voice went away, "From when I first met you at the Shadow of Intent's crash site, I saw you as an unknown stranger, some creature I have never seen before…but you were a broken soul when Rtas died. You had emotions just like every other intelligent being, not a mindless animal with a lot of high tech stuff…" she was describing what she saw when Cyn had seen Thel for the very first time. Thel listened into every word, sinking into his head. Her words sounded…the kindest they've ever been.

"And now, you're like a brother to me. Looking out for me, protecting me from danger and putting your life at risk…and you're not even Spyro…you're a Sangheili, a being from another world that I've never seen in life. I've…I've enjoyed the past the few days Thel…and tomorrow might be the last time we see each other again…whether it may be you going home…or we all die in a vicious battle…" a tear came pouring down from her left eye. Thel lifted a up his right hand and caught it. He didn't know why she was about to cry when nothing has happened.

"Cynder, what's wrong?"

"…I don't want you to leave!" those words had Thel at shock, his bottom mandibles dropped like rocks. Did he really just hear that sentence?

"But…why?" he asked her curiously. She rolled back onto her feet and rested her head against his chest, sobbing at the thoughts of him leaving the world.

"I don't want you to go because…I…I've grown attached to you. Not in the way like I have been with Spyro but…I just don't want you leave…You're my best friend…after all the time we've spent together, you can't just leave…" she nestled against the hard armor but she didn't care about the metal. She wanted Arbiter to stay on this planet, with her, with all the inhabitants of Warfang.

He slowly pushed her away, not forcingly though, "I wish I could…I've met so many wonderful people here, so many different creatures…but as much as it pains me, I have to go back to Sangehilios. I have to see the state it's currently in, what the other elites plan in the near future, how our relationship with the Humans will become stronger. My home needs me…and I cannot put friends and comrades in front of that. Not even you…" Thel regretted saying that to her, he hated himself for even speaking the words, but nevertheless, it was the truth.

Cynder shook her head, getting rid of any other tears her eyes might've dropped, "I (sniff) I understand…ung, by the ancestors, I feel like such a hatchling when I cry now, it's immature! I'm over 13 years old and I still do it" she growled at herself.

"So? I'm much older and I still do. Rarely, but that doesn't change anything" Thel tried to make her feel better, but it didn't seem to work as she paced in front of him.

"Still, I shouldn't have to cry, I mean, I feel good now, Malefor's gone, I have Spyro to love and care for, nothing really can't go wrong…maybe except for the battle but look at me. I'm like a damn hatchling waiting for food!" Cynder stomped her forepaws in the grass in contempt rage.

"Because your own emotions are what makes that happen. You think too much of others and not yourself" Arbiter said to her, causing the Dragoness to stop and look at him directly.

"What do you mean? You think its wrong I shouldn't care about others?" she grumbled with her eyes narrowed in.

"No, it's perfectly natural to think about others that you care for so dearly, but you think about the negatives of what could happen but might not come true. You think about me leaving, you think that something will happen to Spyro, you tell yourself a future that won't come and then you're emotions blind you. Advice from the Sangheili Cynder; Think positive and look out for yourself" Vadam stood up before her. His words settled her down, sitting on her haunches.

"…I guess that's you're way of saying shut up?" Cynder felt like she just secretly got taught to zip the lip. Thel shook his head and sighed deeply.

"In a way you could say…but I'm just telling you, it's a request…but try and take in turns of caring about yourself as well as others. Try not to think about the negatives as well. Do all this and you'll feel better in the end" he knelt down to her height, caressing the back of her head in between her spikes. In return, a smile finally decided to show itself, and Cynder licked Thel's left cheek. She could see a tiny blush from his face.

"I'll take that advice and keep it" she whispered. Thel could only respond with, "Excellent".

She stood back up, as did Thel. The Dragoness cracked her neck side to side, stretching all her bones out.

"I better head back to the Atrium, Spyro's probably wondering where I am. Can't keep him waiting" she smirked with such a sly tone. She walked past Thel, but not before she said her farewell.

"Thel…thanks for this conversation…and thanks for all the time you spent with me. It's been fun these past few days, the most I've ever had" her voice sweetened Arby's two hearts.

"It's been such a pleasure…it has been fun…but let's fight once more tomorrow, together as one" that was Thel's last request from her, and she stood with pride on her shoulders.

"Expect me to be fighting alongside you…goodnight Thel"…

"Goodnight to you too Cyn…" she turned her head, taking off into flight and flew straight towards the Grand Atrium, where Spyro was in her room awaiting her return.

Arbiter had but one more thing to do. He himself but prepare for the battle now. With such determination, he ran fast, very fast, away from the hill with the tree on it. Along the streets of Warfang, beating the cold breeze, nothing else to get in his way. He sprinted by the Blacksmith, passing by the Library. Not loosing any speed, he noticed that he just past by the Infirmary. Clin was putting out the trash, seeing Thel running by. He didn't want to bother whatever Arby was doing, so he let him be.

"Ah that elite. This city really does depend on him" the mole grinned to himself then walked back into the tent.

Soon after, he rocketed passed the restraint where everyone had dinner at. Other moles and some cheetahs that were walking along the streets all saw an elite running through the streets like a madman. Finally, Arbiter had reached his destination. At the front of the Atrium, down on its right side, the armory where it held all the gear this Sangheili needed. He barged in, staring at all the weapons; mole originated, cheetah originated then suddenly, Covenant originated.

Breathing heavily from the long run, he looked at the table with an Energy sword handle sat. It had all the different markings in it, spelling 'Arbiter' in Sangheili language. He picked it up and relinquished its blade, but something was very different about it. Darst had done something to it. Instead of the pure white and blue energy it always had it was pitch black, with shadows coming off of it like Cynder's dark side did. It stunned Thel in one place, his eyes widened at the site.

"Kino…what is this? How did you do it?" there was no way for him to describe this dark and evil and yet, somewhat fear weapon.

The Arbiter withdrew the shadow energy, shaking his head as if he thought he imagined it. Now it wasn't the time for stalling, he rested the handle against his right thigh. He took a Plasma rifle and rested his left thigh, in which he also took a Carbine, putting it onto his back. Taking two plasma grenades and two incendiary grenades and tucked them around his waist.

He thought he was almost ready, but he felt as if he was missing an important component to his arsenal. He noticed the Brute shot within the pile of weapons. The very same Shot he took for himself when he murdered the very first Brute on this planet and found the gun inside the Banshee.

Smiling deviously, he grasped the Brute shot with two hands. He took two belts of grenades that were ammunition for this gun and wrapped it around with the other grenades. With all that needed, he walked out of the armory, feeling the weight he was now carrying. He was ready for the fury that Magnaruckus will place upon this city.

"All right Mags…come and face your demons…"

Ventor had arrived at the vehicle lot. The Spectre, the Phantom, the Banshee, the Ghost and the Locust, all of them set and ready for battle. The Phantom was in the middle of the vehicles, so Odesa had to slip under the Locust and run by the Banshee to get to it. The dropship had identified a Sangheili nearby, so it automatically engaged its gravity lift, giving Ventor access to it's cargo area.

Inside, it's as empty as the Shadow was; only there was no damage and no bodies in it. In the cockpit, two large purple cases sat on the seat. They were no doubt the auto cannons Darst was talking about earlier.

"Come here my pretties" to challenge this, his right hand griped onto one case. To carry the other case though, he slid his blunt left arm under the handle. The heavy case slipped down to his elbow and although this put quite a bit pressure on it, he was going to put these turrets somewhere the Brutes would never expect.

He exited the lift and ran with the guns.

On top of the wall at the front gates, things seemed pretty boring. All the Hunters did was just stand there and watch. Jabjab has sat against the edge wall for over an hour now, trying to go to sleep…but Yapflop wasn't making it any easy.

"Want to play 20 questions? Humans seem to love that game for some reason" now he was just annoying him.

"No…"

"How about I spy?"

"No…"

"What about hungry, hungry Jackals?" suddenly, Jabjab decided to counter all these suggestions.

"I know a game we could play, it's called 'Shut the hell up and let's wait for the Brutes to invade', sound good?" he snickered.

"I love that game! What are the rules?" Yapflop shouted.

"Oh for…(sigh) they're pretty simple…we wait for Brutes to invade, they come, they kill you and we all live happily ever after" Jabjab grumbled, trying desperately to get the orange armored Unggoy off his back.

"That sounds more like a story than a game…tell me more!" Yapflop happily shouted.

"…You know what, instead of them killing you, they kill me instead. That sounds more reasonable!" he couldn't take anymore. Jabjab was going to have a brain hemorrhage at this point until the Hunters turned around.

"What? What is it?" Jabjab asked.

Hunter 1 pointed its giant shield at Darst, who coming towards them with weapons for little Jabjab and Yapflop.

"Oh thank the gods! Darst! Please kill Yapflop! I'm done with him!" Jabjab cried for the Zealot to end the grunt's life but that simply won't happen.

"Trust me Jabjab, as much as he is annoyance and in some cases, a liability, you'll need him more than ever in the morning. We're all in this together" Kino politely handed Yapflop his Fuel rod and Jabjab his Needler. Finally, they're reunited with their weapons after the cheetahs took them when they first met the Grunts.

"OH FUEL ROD! I'VE MISSED YOU! And you're blue, he he he" Yapflop laughed evilly.

"Uhh…yeah…Thanks Darst, we'll kill every Brute we see" Jabjab assured that they won't let him down. That was good enough for the Zealot.

"(Growls angrily)" Hunter 2 looked out in the dark. It's like he felt a presence coming. Its big brother too looked out to the open plains. It was too pitch black to see anything further than 10 miles. Still, nothing came out of the shadows, but when Darst stared beyond the walls…it wasn't all too peaceful.

"What is it? Something out there?" Yapflop curiously asked.

"I don't know…but the Lekgolo know something's not right" that's all Darst could answer.

Up in one of the tallest rooms in near the flat top of the Grand Atrium, inside Cynder's room, Spyro laid quietly on her bed. He has been waiting very patiently for his dragoness to return from talking with Thel. She told him to wait in her room, so why is she taking so long? Just thinking about her made Spyro feel a little bit sleepy.

"Mmm…C'mon Cynder…where are you? (yawns)" just as his eyelids started closing, he opened them up one last time before falling into slumber…that's when he saw her right on top of him.

"AH! CYNDER! I wasn't…thinking anything about…I was waiting for you too-" her front right paw stopped him talking, clasping onto his jaws. Her head seductively sunk next to Spyro's, allowing to her to whisper every single little word to her purple pride and joy.

"This could be our last night together…we've been through a lot together…" she pulled back to match his gaze. He couldn't stop staring at all of her, even if she was in armor. Her face was still the main attention and the most exposed part of Cynder's Arbiter like armor.

"Yeah…we have…the war, the battles we fought, people we've lost…Ignitus…and when we faced Malefor…" Spyro fidgeted into a comfortable position, both of his fore arms holding onto the black dragoness, slowly pulling her down onto his chest.

"(Sigh) I've always wanted to be in this kind of position with you…3 years ago I've been waiting…" she licked around his face so gently and affectionately. He returned the small favor with all the nuzzling he can provide and even kissed her lip for lip.

"I don't want to lose you…not to those savages" he quietly spoke, resting his head beside hers, feeling each others warm breaths. Even through the armor, they can also feel each others beating hearts.

"I can't promise you that Spyro…but…whatever happens…I'll always love you" Cynder opened her maw, as did Spyro. They wanted this very passionate kiss to last for all eternity. They wanted have their future come to life now. When they needed a moment for air, Cynder spoke a few last words.

"And if we both survive tomorrow's doom and destruction…I'll make sure what I said to you on the Shadow of Intent becomes…a reality…"

In the walls again, as Darst, Yapflop, Jabjab and the two Hunters kept a lookout, something caught the watchtower mole's attention.

"I say, what is that?" the mole tried to get a better look at what was coming…

Darst could only say two words: "They're here…"

DUN…DUN…DUN…Fina-effin-ly. You're gonna hate me for stopping at here but I've been working on this for a while and I must say, I'm proud to get up to this part. Haven't really got much to say except "OMFG! BRUUUTES"…or is it? Eh. You'll find out sooner or later.

K, later guys, hope you enjoyed this chapter, review, feedback of all sorts and have a nice day.