Two. Fourteen
The Other Half
Ninth age of Reclamation
CCS battlecruiser Zealous Faith. Fleet of Undoubting Commitment
Shipmaster N’por ‘Tumai
Shipmaster N’por ‘Tumai’s four-fingered hand curled around the armrest of his hovering command chair, the Sangheili’s dark eyes scanning the displays before him. He was an Aristocrat of the ‘Tumai state of Sangheilios, and stood above most other of his kin at 7 units high. A distinguished naval officer as well as ample swordsman, he strutted both the battlefield and his command center in fiery orange armor.
Always angry, and always planning his moves as if in battle, N’por carefully plotted where they would go next on their mission. A holy mission, assigned by the master statesmen of Sangheilios to find an ancient race known as the ‘Div’; who once worshipped the Sangheili as Gods.
“We can’t exactly go about jumping at random, though it may seem we have no chance but to do so” N’por announced, leaning back and bringing the tips of his fingers together, rapping them together.
“Chart a course and get us into the Void. Random trajectory.”
==---==
“...My sister, Princess Luna!” Princess Celestia exclaimed, pointing a hoof to her younger half, who smiled. Taking to the air the Princess of the Night spread her wings over the moon statue constructed for her, lowering the celestial body into position. Celestia did the same, the bodies of the heavens resting at twilight before taking their positions, the two Princess lowering themselves gently to the deck afterwards. The Summer Sun Celebration had gone as planned, despite the immense damages to the country, for morale purposes among the population.
“Have a happy celebration, everypony!” Luna called out, looking to her sister, who nodded. The crowd dispersed, going about their selected activities. While they were busy Celestia, Luna, and Twilight gathered behind the stage, looking out to the ruins of Ponyville in the distance.
“Charades can only go on for so long before the citizenry gets angry. Well, more angry than they already are. Most of them are afraid, however. We need to get this mess cleaned up” Luna commented.
“Agreed. Fillydelphia and Ponyville seem to be covered in blankets of some adverse magic, one that has severe effects on those exposed to it. The survivors of the blast have had their coats cooked off, and severe burns on their skin. Those who have survived the magic are beginning to lose clumps of fur and their skin is getting flaky. Whatever it is, it’s not easily contained. Most of the doctors treating the survivors are getting exposed to it too” Twilight explained.
“Ponyville and Fillydelphia will most likely have to be rebuilt in new locations. What of Cloudsdale and Manehattan?” Celestia asked.
“Cloudsdale is well under way to getting fully repaired, the dragons lending help. They’ve been understandably quiet, some even going so far as to growling or blowing smoke at their Pegasi companions. They are VERY angry at not only losing the war, but at us for surrendering” Twilight answered.
“Hmph, I figured they would understand. They were facing the same threats we were” Luna scoffed.
“You have to understand their culture, Luna. They are fiercely proud, and never submit to defeat. The last time they did was thousands of years ago when we defeated them, and they’ve been loyal to us ever since. All who serve and fight do so to their very last breath. When they concede to defeat it’s done so unanimously, and their leader is executed and replaced, the new one entrusted to lead the dragons to a brighter future. I’ve heard unconfirmed reports of some dragons deserting to join the humans, following their ancient code of honor to serve those who best them in battle with undying loyalty” Princess Sparkle explained.
“Hmm” was all Princess Luna had to offer in reply.
“Manehattan is under control of the Griffons for now. I don’t think we’ll ever be getting that city back.”
“We will let the dragons do as they please for now. It’s the least we can do for them” Celestia stated.
Silence fell over the trio, broken only by the sounds of the celebration behind them. It was far quieter this year than it usually was, most likely as the war was still fresh on everypony’s mind.
“Celestia, I--” Twilight started, cut off by an incredibly loud boom, like that of the sound barrier being broken. The crowd behind them screamed out in panic, fearing an attack from the humans using their Flash-Bombs.
“In the sky!!” one mare screamed, prompting everypony to look up. Twilight saw something unlike anything she had ever seen before racing down from the heavens, sailing through the sky effortlessly. It was long, massive, and was curved and bulbous. With a fat middle and narrow head. Three long fins stuck down from the nose. The hull of the spaceship a purple-gray.
It came to a stop directly over Canterlot, hovering, unmoving. The crowd was now in a full-blown panic, thinking it was more humans. Twilight knew better, though. It didn’t match what the humans painted their ships in.
A light purple cylinder of light extended from the bottom of the ship, coming to a stop in the very center of the park where the Summer Sun Celebration was being held. The crowd stilled for a moment, watching the light for any signs of...anything.
Finally, a being floated down the tube, slowing before impact and lightly landing in the grass. It was gargantuan, capping at 7 feet tall, towering over the diminutive ponies. It’s armor was fiery orange, and at it’s side was a handle, with ancient runes on it glowing blue.
“It’s...one of you...” Celestia whispered, stepping forth. “The dragons are going to want to see you.”
==--==
N’por stood impatient in the entrance hall to the Master Room, where the leader of a race known as ‘dragons’ resided. This leader had yet to arrive, however, and the Shipmaster was getting even more angry than usual.
Finally the gigantic wooden doors behind him opened and in stepped a beast, part of his face and chest heavily bandaged. His armor was dented and scorched, and his steps were a little wobbly.
“Greetings, I am High Lord of the Dragons, Aldurmaax” the beast declared, a strange tone of happiness in his voice. N’por stood with his arms folded over his chest, offering no reply other than his name.
“N’por... Come with me, there is something I must show you” Aldurmaax said, sluggishly walking past the Sangheili and down the hall. There was an offshoot to the right much too small for a dragon, and the High Lord commented on it.
“This temple was taken from a race known as the Griffons during our war 1,000 years ago. I adopted it as my perch when I took power.”
N’por remained silent, following the dragon.
Reaching a staircase the two descended, N’por impatiently waiting for the slow dragon to reach the bottom. On the level there were no doors or offshoots, and they moved on without pause.
Another flight down and they reached a long hall, leading to a massive stone chair in a big chamber. Aldurmaax picked up a little speed, not moving as wobbly as he was before. N’por easily stayed caught up with the dragon, and they quickly reached the chamber.
It was big, the ceiling stretching all the way to probably the peak of the mountain the temple was built into. The massive size and huge chair are not what caught N’por’s eye, however, but rather what was behind the chair.
It was a stained glass picture, almost as tall as the chamber it was in. At the top of the shrine was a black dragon, circling around. And at the forefront was a white-armored Sangheili, thrusting his energy sword high into the air.
“Welcome back, kin of De’mah ‘Tokam. We are the Div; the dragons” Aldurmaax commented, bowing before N’por ‘Tumai.