A/N: Hello~! Little Dragon-kun here with the last chapter of 'A Hyper-Lethal Hero'! You all know what this means. It is time for the final showdown with the Crawler and the Darkness. The end battle will be different from the in-game fight, so bear with me. I do not own Halo or Fable; that is 343 Industries and Lionhead Studios property.

Load game…Start!

*Do The Ends Justify The Means?*

"I now pronounce you as wife and wife," Alex said, clamping the book closed. 'Jesus, who the hell decides now to get married?'

Serah and Amy, now officially married, leaned and kissed each other, happy that they would be together through this time of peril. The diamond rings shone elegantly in the bright afternoon sun, and the crowd gathered below was clapping in joy for the two.

-0-

Amy walked into the Treasury, surprised by how much gold was in there. By her count, it should only be 5,200,000 gold in there. Why was the place completely filled to the brim?

Hobson entered. "Oh, I was going to find you and tell you about this. Several renowned citizens, inspired by that noblewoman's generosity a while back, have all made numerous donations themselves, bringing the Treasury's balance to 7.5 million gold! Isn't this wonderful!?"

Amy sighed in relief. "Yes it is. I can breathe a little easier now, thank you."

Hobson chuckled. "Well, with the feared attack not far away now, it does bring my heart up to see the Treasury this full. I have taken to sleeping beneath the gold, actually."

Amy rolled her eyes. 'And why am I not surprised to hear that?' "So, that's where you sleep now, huh?"

Hobson ignored her comment, or just didn't hear her, and looked at the clipboard. "However, I'm afraid I have dire news about the kingdom's economy."

Amy sighed and leaned against the wall. "Go on."

Hobson looked a bit nervous. "Well, as you know, Logan's policies always kept the kingdom's economy near bankruptcy. However, with the fast approaching Darkness, that problem is now accelerated. We will need to part with at least half a million gold to bring the economy back up. The people are looking for you to save them from economic ruin, but be wary of the costs."

Amy rubbed her temples. "Hobson, we have the gold to spare. Put 500,000 gold into the economy, as the last thing we need is economic collapse."

Hobson bowed. "Very well, Your Majesty." He left to go complete the transfer, and the young Queen headed to the Throne Room, seeing she only had two appointments today.

As she entered, the numerous cheers of the people were heard. "Good day, Your Royal Magnificence!"

Amy waved to the crowd and took her seat on the throne, waiting for the issues at hand. Walter cleared his throat. "The court summons Kalin and Reaver!" Amy inwardly groaned when she heard Reaver's name. 'I swear, it better not be an idea that involves prostitution, or I will throw him off the balcony.'

Walter looked at Amy's face, marveling at how much she had matured over the last year and a half. "Today, you will decide how much protection to grant Aurora, Your Majesty. Kalin will offer her proposal, and Reaver will stand against her."

Amy nodded. "You may speak."

Kalin bowed before beginning. "Your Majesty, the Darkness is very close to us, and we are far from safe. I ask that you erect a military outpost in the desert, which can warn us in case of an attack. Those precious moments can buy my people the time they need to evacuate."

Reaver stepped forward. "A military outpost? I've never heard of a greater waste of money. Why should our soldiers suffer heat stroke and chapped lips in a foreign land when we need to secure our own shores? Keep the soldiers where they belong: here."

Kalin turned to Reaver, furious. "You are trying to condemn my people to death, you bastard!"

Reaver snorted. "Please, I'm thinking about the many who will be killed if we send soldiers to a land in the middle of nowhere."

Amy rolled her eyes. "Enough! Quit bickering in the middle of the court!" The two stopped arguing and looked at the Queen in shock. Never had they heard her raise her voice like that. She turned to Alex, who was by her side. "How many soldiers are we able to spare?"

The blonde Major shook his head. "We can send out maybe two squads worth, but no more. Sorry."

'Better than nothing and letting Aurora burn,' Amy thought. She stood up. "Kalin, I'll send out a small force of our best men, but we can only spare two squads. I'm sorry."

Kalin shook her head. "Don't be. You did the most you could, which is much more than Logan can say."

Reaver simply shrugged. "Ah well, if that is what you say. Reaver Industries will abide by your ruling."

Kalin left, while Reaver stayed behind much to the Queen's annoyance. Walter gulped down a beer quickly before shouting, "Bring forth Sabine of the Mistpeak Dwellers!"

As the leader of the Dwellers hobbled forward, Walter faced Amy. "Today, you will decide what is to be done with the Mistpeak Mountains, home to the Dwellers. Sabine will offer his proposal, and Reaver will stand against him."

Amy nodded. "You may speak."

Sabine bowed. "My Queen. I come here seeking what was promised to me and my people. We fought hard to put you on that throne, and we have played our part. Restore the mountains to their glory and protect our right to dwell in them, and our deal is settled."

Reaver walked forward with a smirk. "Your Majesty, it was Logan who practically started the whole stripping the forest idea, and I think we should continue doing that. The lumber is just what we need for the defenses, and if the Dwellers don't like it, then too bad."

Sabine turned to Reaver, furious with his hands balled into fists. "These hands are not so old that they cannot wring that pretty little neck of yours, Reaver." Reaver simply snorted. "The retort of a true mountain goat, I must say."

Amy stood up. "I will keep my promise to the Dwellers. The Mistpeak Mountains will be restored." The crowd began to clap upon hearing her verdict.

Walter nodded. "The Queen has spoken. The Mistpeak Mountains shall be restored and the Dwellers will have free reign of the area."

Sabine looked grateful to the young Queen. "You are true to your word and your honor. The Dwellers will stand by your side till the end."

Reaver shrugged. "Very well. Who needs all that lumber anyway?"

-0-

Serah and Amy were alone in the Treasury, marveling at how well they had done in the year they had to prepare. Hobson came in, and he seemed a bit flustered. "Happy Anniversary, Your Majesty! One year as the Queen of Albion! To commemorate this occasion, you two will sit still for a few hours while an artist paints a portrait of you. Then, you will be paraded around the city while thirty-seven flowers of your choosing are cast at your feet. Let's see; you will need to sign hundreds of autographs of course, and maybe a new drew or ring that catches your fancy."

A portal appeared, and the two Heroes looked at each other. Serah stared at it. "This is it." Amy nodded and leaned against her. "This is where our nature is revealed, for better or worse." Hand in hand, they stepped through together.

Road to Rule

Serah and Amy landed in the Road to Rule, the mystical castle just in front of them, along with Theresa.

The blind seer shifted her robes. "The day has come, Queen, General. The day has come where you will face the Darkness together, but you will do so in your true forms. Over the past year, you have made decisions which revealed your nature, and have affected all of your subjects." She paused, and Amy stood taller. "I did what was right for my people."

Theresa's lips curved into something that looked like a small smile. "You've done it. Not only have you managed to be a just and rightful ruler, but you have saved your kingdom. But you are more than just a Queen and a soldier. You are Heroes."

Blue and white eagle wings extended from their backs, giving them an angelic appearance. As both Serah and Amy looked at each other in gratefulness, Theresa continued to talk. "You are Albion's protectors, its champions. The coming Darkness is the reason you had to take the throne. Only with you do we stand a chance of survival. If you fail it will be all for naught. Now go. Do what you were born to do." The seer faded, and so did the wings.

Serah hugged Amy. "We have only a few hours to prepare. Let's finish this for good." With their nature revealed, the two Heroes stepped into the exit portal to save their kingdom.

Bowerstone Castle

Serah and Amy arrived in the War Room, and all of their allies were waiting. Walter, Ben Finn, Page, Kalin, Sabine, Alex, and even Nick and Red were all there, circled around the table, awaiting their orders.

Walter looked Amy in the eye. "Your Majesty. The Darkness has reached Bowerstone. Reports indicate that our forces were able to hold off the worst of the first attack, but if we don't get out on there soon, even our armies won't make it."

Serah was shocked. "Are you serious!? Any accounts for Tango Company and Uniform Company in Aurora and the surrounding area?"

Walter shook his head. "All KIA. We lost a large amount of troops in that attack. The Desert Outpost is barely holding."

Serah shook her head. "Unbelievable. I thought after the training they received, they would be able to hold them off."

Ben looked at Amy in an almost pleading way. "We have to get out on the streets now!"

Walter nodded in agreement. "Today we fight for Albion!" Everyone at the table put their fists together. "FOR ALBION!"

Bowerstone Market

Bowerstone Market was the city targeted, as it leads straight to the castle. The streets were dark and filled with black sludge and shadows. Amy drew her sword. "Charge!"

Walter parried a blow with his sword and defeated the shadows. "Defend this city with your very lives gentlemen!"

Amy and Serah pressed their backs together and started to swing at the shadows with their swords, the dark horde seemingly unending.

Alex slashed at a pair of shadows, not able to keep a pair of eyes in the back of his head and a lone shadow crept up on him while Ben yelled out a warning. "Alex! Behind you!" Ben couldn't jump to help him as a trio of shadows descended on him.

Alex turned around and rolled back, drawing his pistol and firing. The shadow vanished and his left eye began to pulse and throb painfully. He fell momentarily. 'That bastard…I'm going to end this!'

The Crawler was nowhere to be seen, yet they could all hear as it let out an angry roar. "ROAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAARRR!" Walter began to panic, sweat dripping off of him. "It's here. It's here!"

The Crawler had an eye on them, and it began its usual taunts. "The light-bringers have come. But this is the kingdom of unlight now. This is the kingdom of death!"

They dashed right, as a mysterious barrier blocked their forward progress. What they saw made them stop dead in their tracks. Walter gasped. "Page!"

Page was sitting on a ledge, reading a book, shadows coming out of her mouth, her eyes swirling black. As they got closer, Page's body vanished, and the Crawler laughed at their horror.

Walter stared at the spot Page was in disbelief. "This isn't real. This can't be real!"

Alex shook his head, shooting at a Minion as it came too close for comfort. "It's only an illusion! Don't look at it, or it'll drive you mad!"

Serah leaped over the Major's head and kicked a Minion's head off, the body falling useless. "Let's go! Show this thing what we've got!"

On the other side of the small alley, in the town square, a small group of Delta and Charlie Company Soldiers were trying to fight the shadows, but they were outmatched greatly. Every time the soldiers would take out one, five more took its place. One by one, the soldiers died and disappeared into shadow.

Spotting a few barrels, Amy targeted them and fired, the small explosions taking out groups of the shadows. "Hit the barrels! Take as many as you can in one blast!" The five concentrated their fire on large groups, with Alex and Serah striking the stragglers.

The windows of a shop burst open, dark birds flying from them. Each window held a different image of Amy. The Crawler growled in her ear. "You have brought much harm. The people you know shall rejoice in your death."

Amy held her hands over her ears, trying to banish the voice. "STOP!"

Walter and Serah covered her while Ben and Alex worked against the eight Dark Minions in front of them. "Don't listen to it! We'll never leave you!"

Alex and Ben shared a glance, both men drawing their swords. Alex smirked. "I take the left and you take the right?" Ben nodded back. "Sounds good to me!"

Both men charged, and Ben parried several blows from the Minions' blades with his cutlass, the steel holding up. He then went from defense to offense, swinging his sword with all his might. The Minions were unable to take such heavy blows and died, bursting into pieces.

Alex went all out offense, using his speed to dance around the blades and land devastating hits. Two Minions began to spin around, the blades slicing the air, hoping to hit human flesh. Alex ducked and rolled under one before drawing his pistol and blowing the Minion's head off. He and Ben teamed up to break the last one to bits.

They ran past the seal and stood on the bridge, gaping as a Sentinel rose from the stone, staff in hand. Alex tightened his grip on his sword, remembering just how badly the last fight with one of the large beings ended. He could still feel the scars.

"The Dark Guardian shall come and protect us. All that is flesh and light shall die!" the Crawler rasped. Ben stared at the Sentinel with wide eyes. "We have to find a way around it!"

Serah scoffed and forced her way through until she was right in front of the being. "Spartans never run from a perfectly good fight. I'm not breaking that code now!"

She drew Avo's Lamentation, the blade beginning to crackle with electricity. Serah got ready to strike when she heard a voice. "Do you want power?"

Keeping her voice low so no one would hear her, she whispered. "Who's there?"

"I have seen in your heart, what you truly want. You want to protect her from harm. I can give you that power if that's what you wish," the voice whispered.

Serah closed her blue eyes, her grip on the sword steady. "I do. I'll protect those dearest to me."

"Then go. May Avos light your path, warrior," the mysterious voice said before fading. A flash of bright light came from the blade of her sword. When it faded, Avo's Lamentation had a new scribble on the handle. Serah looked at it closer. "Bringer of Light- B312"

Serah held her hand close to her heart, closing her eyes again. "Let's do this."

The Sentinel raised its staff and swung. Serah blocked the blow, being forced back a few feet. She got back up, the blue/white wings sprouting from her shoulders. A new power surged through her. The Sentinel slammed its staff into the ground, and Serah jumped on top the being's back before she sliced it in half.

Serah landed on the ground, the wings fluttering and Will lines crossing her body. She stood back up, and everyone was looking at her in surprise. Especially Alex. "How the hell did you do that!?"

Serah's wings faded away, and she was back to normal. "I have a desire to make sure something doesn't happen."

"…And what is that?"

Serah ignored the question and led them over the bridge, stopping when she saw the horde of shadows waiting. "Oh great. This is really what I wanted to see."

She stole a glance at Amy and the two began to charge their magic, not stopping while Walter, Ben, and Alex fought against the Minions. Finally, the spells reached their maximum strength, and the two released a magical storm of fury. Well, that's how Walter and Ben put it into words.

Two spirals of magic, one Ice Storm/Shock and the other Fire/Vortex, wiped out the entire force of shadows in that small area alone. Alex blew the head off of the last Minion, and they ran forward, skidding to a halt when another Sentinel appeared. Ben looked around, now noticing the clouds in the sky. "Where the hell did the sun go?"

Amy was about to confront the being when Serah beat her to it. "I'll handle this." She twirled her sword above her head. "Come at me, and you'll find out you're standing too close to a burning flame."

The Sentinel responded by slamming the staff into the ground, a large crack forcing the Spartan to jump. "Shit!"

Serah landed, and she was not happy at all. "Bastard…" Her wings sprouted again, and she charged the Sentinel, her rifle in one hand and her sword in the other. Serah leapt over the staff, but her rifle didn't make it and it broke, shattering into pieces.

She looked at the broken weapon. "You really pissed me off now." Her wings grew, and she threw Avo's Lamentation at the Sentinel's face. The blade stuck, and Serah climbed on the being's back and ripped the head off. "I warned you."

The body of the mightiest Darkness creature fell, and the path was clear. With a jerk of her head, the others followed her into the other side of the town square. Amy, Alex, and Walter entered first.

Walter looked around. "I can feel it. We're close to that thing. Where are you? Show yourself!" He turned around and gasped. The Crawler, in all its hideous glory, was right there In front of him. "The lost sheep return to the flock. No one ever leaves the Darkness behind!"

The Crawler roared, tilting Walter's head back and disappearing inside of the old soldier. Amy looked at him, her hand out. "Walter, are you okay?"

Walter turned to look at her, a dark shadow surrounding him. He was possessed by the Crawler. "Do you see? Do you see what you have allowed? We are all shadows now."

Serah and Ben ran to help the young Queen, only for their way to be blocked by a barrier. Serah pounded on it. "NO! I can't get through!"

Amy drew her sword, ducking as 'Walter' swung at her. He thrusted again, and Amy rolled away. 'Why!? Why does it have to be this way!?'

Alex hobbled over, clutching his eye. "Amy, don't see him as Walter. See him as an enemy now."

Amy's grip on her sword faltered. Even if he was possessed, he was still her mentor and ally. "Walter…"

Serah pounded on the barrier. "You have to do it! Otherwise… otherwise we'll all be gone! Not just him! Everyone will be dead! Lily, Luna, Nick, Red…" she dropped her voice low so only Amy would hear her. "Me…"

'No.. I will never allow that! After everything we've been through, I want to be stronger!' Amy screamed mentally. Her sword began to glow blue, blinding her. "My master, do you truly want to wield my power? Do you want to become stronger; stronger than you are now?" Her own sword was talking to her.

Amy thought about all the people depending on her, those that needed her to be stronger. No matter the cost. "I do."

"Then your wish shall be granted…after you prove to me you can wield my power. Prove to me you are worthy of the true power of Heroes."

Amy tightened her grip. 'I'm so sorry Walter that it had to come to this.' She closed her green eyes briefly before opening them again. Wings grew from her back, and she blocked 'Walter's' swing before spinning him around and pushing her sword through his stomach. The possessed man's eyes bulged slightly before he crumpled to the ground, his sword falling on the ground with a loud clatter.

As Amy slowly stumbled over to her dying mentor, the Crawler managed to escape Walter's body, its hideous form there for all of them to see. "I will never stop! Darkness will spread across this world! Death will beat its wings for you!"

"Not today," a determined voice muttered. Serah and Ben saw as Alex got to his feet, his sword pointing at the Crawler. "You did this to me! You made me a monster! You stripped my humanity! I'm going to end this with my own hands!"

The Crawler shifted into a form of a shadow, wielding a sword similar to Alex's. "You will be discarded like so many of your kind have before. Crushed under the blanket of darkness."

"You talk too damn much," Alex hissed, crouching low. The Crawler twirled its sword over its head before lunging, the blow blocked by Alex. The blonde sheathed his blade before striking himself, which was blocked in return.

The Crawler let out a growl, and mystical blades appeared around him. "I am shadow now! Nothing can defeat me!"

Alex rolled out of the way as the blades began to launch themselves at him. "Dammit!" He let a hiss of pain escape him as a blade pierced his lower arm, pinning it to the ground and leaving him defenseless.

The Crawler loomed over him. "Does it hurt? Are you in pain?" The mocking tone infuriated Alex, and he struggled to free himself from the blade pinning him down. The blade detonated, ripping Alex's arm to shreds. He let out a pained scream as his arm practically blew off. Blood began to pour, coating the ground a sickly crimson. The Crawler laughed mercilessly, thinking he had won. "This is where the failed experiment dies!"

Alex's vision began blacking out, until he saw her face again. "Alana…"

"Well Alex? Is this how you're going to go out? With a whimper?" the image asked, shaking her head. Alex closed his eyes. "No…"

"Then get back up! Fight like you've never before! Be the man I would have married, had I lived," Alana told him. Alex got back up, blood continuing to poor from the remains of his arm. "I'll do it."

The Crawler lunged at him, and Alex's left eye flickered blue, his knife ready. When the Crawler was a foot away from him, he activated his magic, pain coursing through his body as he did so. The Crawler turned back into its normal form, panicking. "You insect! What have you done!?"

Alex vanished from his view, and the Crawler let out a scream its throat was ripped open. Alex blasted the fallen creature with one last spell, and the Crawler fell to the ground, dead. The body turned into a cloud of blackened rose petals. Alex's vision swam, and he tumbled to the ground. 'Thank you Alana…'

-0-

The barrier preventing Serah and Ben from entering vanished, and both ran over to where the others lay. Amy was silently crying as she gazed at Walter's dying face. "I'm sorry."

Walter let out a hacking cough. "You took away the darkness. It was inside me for so long. But it's light now. I can see the sky, and its light." He coughed again, his breaths growing shallower. "I don't think I can fight any more."

Amy held his rough hands. "It's over Walter. We won. We beat it together."

Walter's eyes were beginning to look unfocused now. "Remember the stories I told you when you where a child? 'There was a great Queen once, the mightiest Hero of the all'. Remember what you would say?"

Amy looked down in sorrow. "Teach me to be a Hero."

Walter's hand fell from her shoulder. "You've done me proud. You've always done me proud." With those last words, Walter breathed his last and he died, his spirit leaving his body. Amy cried into Serah's shoulder. "Walter!"

The young Queen let her tears flow, for the man that was both her mentor and father figure was dead. Serah ruffled her hair. "He would've made a true Spartan."

Ben walked over, Alex's body in his arms. Rain began to fall, and the water began to pour down on everyone, almost like the sky was mourning for the lives that have been lost in for Albion.

-0-

Bowerstone Castle

Amy and Serah, arms wrapped around each other, both stared at the massive memorial in front of them. "Very fitting and well deserved."

Ben looked at it with them. "I think old Walter would have liked it out here. He was always a fan of looking, um, tall and stony. I can imagine what he would say if he were here now."

"Shut up Ben," Amy said wistfully. Ben chuckled. "Exactly."

Kalin stepped forward. "We are honored to have fought with you, and my prayers go out to those lost. Farewell, Your Majesty."

Sabine sighed too, for he had enjoyed living under this Queen's rule. "It Is time for me to return to my own castle. If you ever need to save the world from another abomination, you know where to find me."

Page gave the two Heroes a look of gratitude. "You are nothing like your brother. The world was changed for good. It has been a pleasure being by your side."

"What will you do now?" Amy asked.

Page gave the Queen an apologetic smile. "I'll continue serving you the best way I can. The people need me in the city. I'll see you again, My Queen."

Ben looked at Amy with a sad smile. "Well chum, ruler supreme, pal. You did it. You saved the kingdom, and it's my time to say my goodbyes. I'm not fit to be a General. I think I'll start traveling again. or maybe see if Page needs any help down in Industrial. But first, let's send out our friend in style, shall we? This one's for you Walter."

Serah turned to the seven soldiers, the only remaining members of Charlie and Delta Company. "Squad, attention!" The guards snapped to. Serah shared a glance with Ben before doing the next order. "Present arms!"

The men shouldered their rifles and fired once. 7 shots. They fired again. 14 shots.

Before they could fire for the last time, Theresa appeared with a portal. "This is the world as it could have been. Devoid of color, devoid of life. It is thanks to you two that we're here. You saved Albion without becoming a tyrant, banishing the shadow of Logan's rule. The people love you."

Serah sighed. "It wasn't easy though. We lost so many. Crimson, Grif, Walter, Wynter, Sapphire, Alex…"

"And who says that I'm dead!?" an indignant voice rang out. Serah and Amy turned to see Alex, still alive. Serah's jaw dropped. "How…"

Alex rolled up his sleeves to show what had been done. His arm was stitched back up, and apart from the angry red scars, it looked fine. "I'm not dead yet, my friend." His left eye was back to normal, the same emerald green as the right. "I'm finally free of this curse."

Serah gave him a slightly strange look. "So, you don't have any more magic?" Alex chuckled. "Nah, I still retain some powers, but the Darkness magic is gone. When the Crawler died, that power also died. That thing was my source."

Theresa let out a small cough, and the two apologized. "Sorry."

Theresa smirked and looked at each of their major allies. "You kept your promise to Sabine, when it would have been easier to turn your back on it. A noble gesture. You did what your brother would not, and saved Aurora. Kalin and her people are forever in your debt. You kept your promise to Page, even when things looked dire. Without the strength to make those choices, we would not be standing here now."

Amy blinked. "Do you really mean that?"

Theresa nodded. "Perhaps we shall meet again one day, Queen, General."

"Aren't you going to tell me my future?" Amy asked. Theresa shook her head. "The future will reveal itself when it is ready to do so." The seer faded away, and the soldiers fired the last 7 shots, completing the 21 gun salute to Walter.

The group disbanded, with Page and Ben heading to the city while Sabine and Kalin left to their respective homes. Alex looked at the memorial. "Mira, I'm so sorry that I wasn't able to save you, but your courage will live on in the soldiers remaining."

He made a quick motion across his chest, and he leaned against the balcony, his blonde hair rustling in the wind. "Is this how it ends for us? A lifetime of peace after defeating the greatest threat Albion has ever faced?"

Amy sighed and looked over the railing to the town below. "I don't know. But, after this event, the people will have changed their opinion of us."

Alex gave her a smirk. "Yeah, you two go down as some of the greatest Heroes in history, all while you catch a break from all the damn excitement. I'll miss the chase."

Serah sighed and joined Amy. "I don't really think so. After all, a Hero's life is never normal, is it?"

End game… Quit!

A/N: There it is folks! 'A Hyper-Lethal Hero' is complete! Do I get a round of applause at all? For this has been a fun ride, and I'm sorry to say this is the end. But, there will obviously be a sequel, which will be up in a month or so. Until next time!

Little Dragon-kun