WARNING: The following document details the ending to Assassin's Creed Brotherhood. If you have not yet played the ending, and do not wish to spoil it, LEAVE THIS PAGE AND DO NOT READ! This contains plot spoilers.

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Hope. He had been so full of hope.

After all the time he spent in the Animus, surely now they would achieve something?

They had Ezio's memories, they had the Apple location. All they had to do was retrieve the Apple, and they'd have Abstergo defeated.

But it wasn't that simple. It was never that simple when it came to Abstergo.

Hope. Hope had got them that far.


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Desmond stepped forward. He couldn't understand all the symbols but surely Shaun would work it out. He was already ranting. Phrygian Cap and Masonic Eye or something.
The Apple was calling him. He had to pick it up off it's plinth. It could not remain there, where Abstergo could find it.
He picked it up, cradling it in his hands. He could feel it, almost as if it was living...
And then, he froze. The world froze.
"What's happening? I... I can't move"
And then a mystical voice sang out.
"Your DNA communes with the Apple. You have activated it."
Desmond attempted to struggle against the Apple's power, but it was no use.
"LET ME GO!"
"On the 72nd day, before the moment of awakening. YOU, birthed from our loins, and the loins of our enemies. The end and the beginning, who we abhor and honor. The final journey commences."
None of it made sense to Desmond. All he cared about now was surviving.
"There is one who would accompany you through the gate. She lies not within our sight. The cross darkens the horizon."
What gate? Who lies out of sight? What cross darkens the horizon? The Templars? These sort of questions were not on Desmond's mind.

He felt his body move, unable to stop himself. He felt himself turning to Lucy, his hidden blade sliding out.
"What are you doing!?" he demanded.
"The Path must be opened." More riddles Desmond couldn't solve. At this point, nobody could.
"You cannot escape your part in this. The scales shall be balanced."
The Apple forced him to move. He was approaching ever closer to Lucy.
"Stop. Please!"
He moved ever closer.
"You know very little. We must guide you."
He stepped closer.
"Cease your struggle!"
Lucy was right in front of him now. How he wished he could avert his gaze.
But of course, if he could avert his gaze, he would not witness the most heart-breaking action he would ever do in his lifetime.
"No!"
Their eyes were level with each other. He could see how peaceful she looked, not even aware of what was about to happen.

The sound it made was horrific. A clean snick, like a key going into a lock. He wanted to scream, to shout, to flee, to hide forever from the known world.
For the act he had just committed was so devastating. He could possibly never recover, for he had just managed to create a stable relationship which had now crumbled. All for some stupid plan that Those Who Came Before had put into place to satisfy their needs.
"It is done. The way lies all before you. Only she remains to be found. Awaken the sixth. GO! ALONE!"

Suddenly, Desmond could move again. Not that it made any difference now.
He crumbled to the floor next to Lucy, the Apple still in hand.
Obtaining the Apple had come at too high a cost. Sacrificing a human life was too much.
Not that it made a difference now. Nothing Desmond could think or say would ever justify what had happened: he had murdered his one true love.

Hope. What a fucking ridiculous notion.