Halo-Year 2557, The Library

Chief jumped down onto the platform.

"Yeah! Let's get ready to go to the second section," Ridley said. They waited as the platform slowly progressed ahead...slowly...slowly...

BOOOOOM!!!!

"What the heck?" Ridley said. he looked. 347. Crap. It was 347 again. Seriously, what was wrong with this guy? And how did he set off such a huge shock?

"Unacceptable Forerunner! Get off my ring!" it called. Samus looked up to see the deformed robot floating in the air. Its eye was dangling in its socket. She raised her gun. Yippee, a sentry bot to destroy! Suddenly, a large set of robots and three huge, shielded sentry bots appeared. There were thousands of them.

"You will not be permitted into the Library's main chamber!" 347 Guilty Spark yelled in rising tone. Ridley glared at him, laughing.

"You mean the one we're about to enter?" Ridley joked. 347 turned red and shot a powerful beam that leads to immediate pwnage on Halo 3 into Ridley's chest. Ridley flew backwards and regained balance. He had to take pain-but he couldn't die-just yet. Ridley staggered upward and smashed the robot against the ground again and again. Woohoo! More fun. Bash! Bash! Bash! Yeah, nothing can beat the feeling. Master Chief stared at the victim of Ridley's strength.

"You know, I would've done that if I realized he'd kill us in the end," he said. Ridley, after hearing the loud noise of the crying the robot made, let it go. The Guilty Spark ughed in disgust and somehow, immediately the platform froze.

"Now I'm angry. Never did you know I could do this," he said triumphantly. Ridley signaled for the Elites to grab his leg and hold on, Samus and MC to hold onto his arms, and the Arbiter to hop onto his back when he said now.

"What are you going to do?" 347 taunted.

"Now," he whispered. The Elites ran in and grabbed Ridley's legs, Samus one arm, Master Chief the other, and the Arbiter jumped onto Ridley's back.

"Brotherly love. However, an installation of my intelligence has no time for-" 347 was interrupted by Ridley extending his wings. Ridley flapped and winded the 347 back a little, stunning its core memory for a few seconds, and Ridley shot into the air and flew out the door.

The view was amazing. Samus stared out into the sky with awe as she dangled off of Ridley's arm. The door behind them had shut, and it was only a matter of time before the annoying little sphere opens it again to get its revenge. The sky was grey with other assorted colors, and it was dusk. The sun was setting beyond the Halo. Ridley huffed in disgust. He prefers the overwhelming sight of acid rain pouring from large dark-violet clouds onto the purple soil of his Homeworld. But I guess no one always gets what they want. Ahead of them was a replica of what was behind them, and Ridley had to bust the door down with brute force. Yeah, that crappy little robot caused this. But Ridley loves the feeling of wind brushing against his scales much more than waiting ten minutes on his feet on a slow moving platform. Ridley lowered to a balcony and let the others off, and he felt much lighter and relief. Always a good feeling.

"To save potential energy, is there a code punch in that which I can hack nearby?" Ridley asked. The Arbiter looked around. Nope. Ridley recognized the look. "There's got to be something," Ridley said. The Arbiter shook his head. Ridley growled and went to the door crack. It was just open enough for him to pry the thing open. Ridley is super strong. It'd work. "Here goes nothing," Ridley screeched as he rubbed his hands together. Without thinking, he inserted a claw into the crack, and follwed suit with the other. He started to pull the two sides apart. Once the crack got wide enough, Ridley put his claw feet in as well and started to pry it with them as well. He extended his wings for comfort on his muscles. Ridley looked up and blew fire on the two door sides, making the door weaker so that he could pry it much more easily. Huta and Tura, the Arbiter, MC, and Samus looked at Ridley. That must be hard. Samus shot a Super Missle at the door, and it shot open a little more easily. Ridley held the door open at full force, now at his whole body length. He looked down and saw something disturbing. Before telling you what it was and if it was living or not, Ridley twisted the sides of the door and ripped one end off, and slammed the metal into the disturbing thing-which was a living Taridian. The Taridian exploded, and the door refused to shut now that Ridley had ripped the metal out. Once Ridley realized it refused, he dropped down in a dive-bomb fashion, re-extended his wings, and rose with no warning at the balcony.

"Who's ready to stop Phantoon?" Ridley asked. The protagonists jumped onto Ridley in the same manner, and they flew into the second section of the Library...which, did I mention, the second part was dark? Not pitch black, just oddly dim with a flickering light in every room. Inviting.

"Keep on your toes," Ridley said. "I saw a Taridian in here." The lights flickered on and off, and repeated. The protagonists heard a low gurgling growl-one that does not belong to Ridley. "Crap," Ridley said. Taridians.

They walked slowly ahead and opened a piston to jump down; Ridley always went first. Eventually they ran into a room that was overrun with Taridian hives. Once again, crap. Ridley gently hovered over the hives, but the others had to slowly weave their way across the sickening hives.

"Curse Mother Brain," Ridley said. "Curse myself for having the thought of creating it."

"Don't say that," Cortana told Ridley. "It's a power nearly no creature could resist." Ridley thought for a moment.

"True." They left the room with the Taridians. Glad that's over. Ahead of them was a balcony that had two stories and a large space beyond it. In Halo 2, you enter this room, and it has dead marines, Flood everywhere, sentry bots in the space along with one mega-sentry bot. The open space shaped like a dome is too large to jump down. But I'll let you in on a secret: the bottom of the dome leads to a small network of passageways that leads to the outside faster. Truly, I just made that up, but since I don't want to explain every single hallway nor jump ahead too far, it was necessary. And, oh, how convenient! The protagonists just so happens to have a winged gargantuan on their side! Yeah, I know. Those sarcasm jokes are getting old, especially because I started to use them more often when they left Enrekeita. (The Space Pirate Homeworld, for those people who like to jump ahead in stories) Ridley nodded and they grabbed his legs/arms, and one of them hopped onto Ridley's back. The Taridians were coming. Ridley had heard it. "Get ready," Ridley said. He jumped down and extended his wings. While a force did grab him and jerk him upward, it was appropriate to fly so harsh. They flew to the bottom gently and docked. The Elites, MC, Samus, and the Arbiter jumped off Ridley. Behind them was a battlefield. Maybe extremely handy for a battle. But ahead of them was a door, and that's what they were headed for. Ridley jet-speeded hisself to the door. The others ran theirself to the door. Ridley didn't pick-lock it-me melted it. Original, huh? He made the doorway bigger by melting it, and walked in. The protagonists followed suit.

You'll never guess what was in the next room. You'll never believe me. Taridians? Nope. Even worse. But what could be worse than Taridians? Ask the protagonists. The room was a large hallway with two stories, lined with safety glass containers. Inside were hibernating creatures. These creatures floated, had fangs, and were small, and had a round head that revealed their brain. Any idea yet? Metroids. Yeah, we just had to have them.

"The bugger took a portion of our Metroids to the facility!" Ridley whispered, looking at the hibernating creatures. It's weird-no known and official way to kill a Metroid. In Metroid for the NES, release 1986, you had to freeze the Metroids and shoot five missles at them. Pretty creative for its time in the video game world on killing an enemy. Same tactic in Metroid II and Super Metroid, Metroid Zero Mission (which is just a remake of Metroid for the NES), possibly Metroid Fusion. But in the Prime Saga, you could merely kill a Metroid by just shooting it nonstop with no mercy. That, I believe, is a better and logical solution to the life-sucking creatures.

Anyway, Samus remembered it's really Ridley's fault anything happened at all. She'd be a normal citizen on Earth and/or K-2L, of the K-2Ls, with no war. No conflict from the Space Pirates at all-if Ridley never did anything. But Samus couldn't do anything about Ridley right now. They could use all the help they could get. The Arbiter got lost in the large hall with Huta as the others were proceeding. The room was so dim most likely the others first of all won't notice they're gone, and most likely they're lost too. The Arbiter sniffed a container. No single whiff of the Flood. These creatures were worse than Flood, but so small. How could that be so? The Arbiter accidentally backed in and knocked a container over. It made a clanking noise, and the once hibernating Metroid inside was going crazy with rage. The Arbiter stared at it with disgust. It was ugly-and seemed about as aggressive as a Hunter Flood. And this was just one Metroid. The Arbiter and Huta turned around and walked on slowly.

"Arbiter...how is this any of our business?" Huta asked. the Arbiter looked down.

"If the rings are fired, we are doomed. You must think, Huta," the Arbiter replied. He felt pain and a sudden urge to hear Phantoon and his wise...no, unwise words. The impulse was weak, but seemed to get stronger by the five minute passed. Shatter! The Arbiter and Huta immediately turned around and saw the glass busted-and the Metroid was floating in the air. The Arbiter gasped as the creature screeched ear-deafeningly and dashed at the two. The Arbiter jumped out of the way and fired. Ridley raised his head and looked in the direction of the loud Fuel Rod's noise.

"Arbiter...did you set the Metroid free?" Ridley whispered to himself. He dashed out to the source of the noise. Samus heard it as well, so she sprung into action. Purposely fired gunshots, never a good sign in a room lined with Metroid containers. Ridley met with Samus, and Ridley glared at her. They may be on the same side, for now, but that doesn't mean they can't despise each other to no end.

"It came from over there," Ridley said in a serious tone. Ridley started to walk in the direction he pointed out. Samus followed him and stayed nearby.

"Ridley...why did you decide to join forces with us? I mean, with me on their side and everything," Samus wondered. Ridley turned his head halfway.

"You and I both currently have the same target," Ridley said. "But don't get your hopes up on me staying over here." Samus nodded, just after Ridley turned his head back.

The Arbiter threw his empty-ammoed Fuel Rod at the Metroid in rage. "Take that, vile creature!" the Arbiter called. The Metroid got hit, but merely staggered in mid air. It regained its levitation and looked at Huta. It screeched and aimed straight for Huta, and dashed. The Arbiter reached out, yelling "Noo!" but the Metroid fastened itself on the helpless Huta's neck. Huta fell to the ground, stunned, and the Metroid enjoyed itself of the life it was taking out. The Arbiter beat down on the Metroid, and it eventually exploded, which brought back memories of the Flood. Huta was squirming wildly on the floor, a large hole in its neck from the Metroid's fangs.

"Yulan Ifra Hutania! Are you well?" the Arbiter screamed. Huta coughed out Elite guts, and his head fell back to hit the Floor. Huta was dead. The Arbiter, after a few seconds of grieving, stomped the ground in rage and kicked a container over. And guess what? The Metroid in there bust itself out as well. The Arbiter narrowed its eyes at the Metroid and ran for his life-but not really as much out of fear, as much as the feeling you get after you want revenge on something but know you can't hurt it without risk.

Ridley heard the screech of a Metroid again and identified the vibrations in his mind. "Samus, more Metroids have escaped," Ridley told Samus, who was following him. He identified the vibrations as totally different than the first-was the first still intact? After much running, in which was hard for Ridley because Samus had to keep up, a Clank! could be heard on Ridley's chest. Ridley stopped, just finally paying attention to the heat signals. The Arbiter lie below Ridley, and Ridley stared at him.

"How many are there?" Ridley asked. The Arbiter opened his eyes.

"As far as I am aware of...one," the Arbiter replied. Ridley held out his claw to help the Arbiter up. Half afraid Ridley was going to slit his wrist, the Arbiter accepted help and got up. He brushed his armor off. "Huta was killed...by the first Metroid," the Arbiter said. Samus gasped. Ridley rolled his eyes.

"Death is a part of life. I wouldn't be surprised if the only ones alive after Phantoon is killed is me, Samus, and that Spartan 117," Ridley said. Samus hit Ridley somewhat lightly-she didn't want to piss him off. It's true-the Elites, including the Arbiter, were most likely to die in this journey, especially because of the Arbiter's corruption. They were hopeless-if Kraid hadn't fought them, they'd most likely still have Ytrian-the shipmaster. Ytrian would easily persist through this place as careful as possible-but Kraid killed him. With Ytrian, the Elites would be more confident-more confident than they are with the Arbiter. Now, besides the Arbiter, only Tura remained. Let's face it-the Elites were screwed. But enough about them. The protagonists had enough on their shoulders right now.

Tura ran nearby and saw the others-and he caught up.

"N'tho Eliba Turaga! Huta is dead..." the Arbiter said. Tura shook his head in shame. This sucks. Ridley looked over at a possibly correct exit.

"We have to get out of here," he said. Everyone nodded. Ridley directed the rest to the door, when Samus just remembered she forgot something.

"John!" Samus called, referring to Master Chief. "John!"

"Spartan!" the Arbiter called. He was more likely to be heard than Samus. Ridley inhaled.

"Spartan 117!!!" he screeched. Whew, that was loud. Ridley screeches pretty dang loud. No response, though. Well, this sucks. MC is now out of the picture...

The remaining protagonists walked to the door. Guess who was there? MC. Yeah, he was at the door, punching in a code, as Cortana called out numbers.

"Spartan?" the Arbiter asked. MC turned his helmet to look at the Arbiter.

"Your corruption is getting worse," MC said. The Arbiter nodded.

"I have thoughts I regret thinking..." the Arbiter replied. A side effect of the blue phazon. Soom, the Arbiter would be corrupted horribly, and most likely, since Krumarai had been...eh, assimilated, the Arbiter's phazonide would make him Phantoon's new understudy. How fun. A sudden shock in the room sent the protagonists into surprise, except Ridley, and the Metroid containers all tipped over. Crap. Slowly but in a steady pace, you could hear tough glass shatter, and one by one, Metroids leaked out and floated in the air, simply staring at the good guys. Ridley sighed. He wasn't too troubled. Why? Hm...

"Get to opening the door, Ridley!" Cortana said. Ridley stood there calmly, staring at the Metroids, no fear being showed. Once Cortana realized he wouldn't do anything, she and MC continued to try and crack the code to continue. But one thing-they were slower, and Cortana wasn't too good at fidgeting with circuitry. The Metroids stared for maybe a few seconds longer. MC was scared-who wouldn't be? The Metroids would assault at any moment. Boy, that really inspires joy, doesn't it? Samus and MC heard the screeches from behind them. MC stayed focused on the lock, while Samus freaked out. There were maybe hundreds-or thousands-of them. What was the most Samus fought at once? Like, seven. The Metroids zipped towards the protagonists, superbly hungry for life energy. Yeah, perfect time to scream W00T. Not. Maybe for the Metroids, but not for the screwed protagonists. But were they screwed? Ridley was still standing there, the others believing he was insane. Which he is, but you know what I mean. He had something up his sleeve...er, spiked arm. The Metroids were close. Too close. Yeah, the Metroids were watering at the mouth. Literally. Probably their first meal in ages. They screeched. They twitched their fangs. They were hungry for sure. And Ridley was just standing there. The Metroids got to be about three yards away from the protagonists, when Ridley came through for them. He held up a shining, red orb that occasionally shifted to green in color, but barely. The Metroids stopped, and looked confused. Ridley motioned the orb towards the back of the room, and the Metroids floated over to the back of the room. Quickly, Ridley pushed Master Chief aside and smashed the door down.

"Come," Ridley said. Samus was in awe. She hadn't seen Ridley use that orb since she battled Mother Brain, version 1.0. But, you may be thinking, Ridley never used an orb to...er, control Metroids in the original Metroid, or Zero Mission, for that matter. Relax, folks. It's something I made up to spice the story of the original Metroid up.

"Ridley...you still have the Mertonia Sphere?" Samus asked, as they walked down the hallway of after the door. Ridley hid the orb on his arsenal. "I thought I destroyed it."

"No, you didn't. You destroyed a replica, which is why I still had Mother Brain tamed, even after you 'destroyed' it," Ridley said. That was a crime Samus had to attend to later. She looked ahead to see MC walking ahead, with Tura and the Arbiter.

"Are you going to fix the Arbiter?" Samus asked Ridley. Ridley shrugged slightly.

"Maybe. Depends on his...behavior," Ridley replied. Samus looked back to where she was walking. The Arbiter stopped at a small piston, and opened it. It revealed a chute.

"Down here," he pointed. The others nodded, and Ridley jumped down, furling his wings in. Then MC jumped in, followed by Tura, then the Arbiter. Samus heard a screeching noise behind her, and she jumped in as well. The piston closed behind her.

The chute was amazingly bright, but was slightly fogged up by an eerie red glow. It didn't matter to Samus. She was used to this kind of stuff. The chute kept shifting directions, seemingly, and eventually, they reached a stop, on a floor. The others stood in front of Samus, looking at Ridley walking through the door ahead. A horrible shock was sent through Samus when she walked out and saw the outside. It was an ugly, horrible wasteland. God, worse than Agon Wastes on Aether or the Chozo Ruins on Tallon IV. Put together. Yeah, it was that bad. When they had to cross over to the dimmer wing of the Library, it was a beautiful view-I guess Samus never stopped to look down, which you shouldn't in flight while dangling, of course. The area had an eerie green aura with many crashed passages. Guess what lurked among this horrible dump? For one, Space Pirates, who would attempt to kill Samus and/or MC. W00T. Then, the occasional Fission Metroid, which is uglier than a normal Metroid, in which were also somewhat abundant here. The most rare thing to see was a disturbing sight-a tiny, helpless Taridian parasite, stalking a Space Pirate. Perfect. Then, you could also see Phantoon...wha'? Crap. Phantoon was here. Well, why not just shove another heavy load on the protagonists' shoulders. I bet Ridley was so happy to see the floating one-eye-in-mouth telepathic creature.