My Emerald Child

"Human talking"

"Alien talking"

'Thoughts'

Sorry this took so long. so many things are happening I feel like I'm on a topsy turvy ride one spin away from being sick!

Anyway, here is the first rewrite. Enjoy!

Chapter One: I wish

A small five year old boy huddled in his cupboard. He was so hungry and tired but he knew better than to say anything. He was supposed to be a good little freak or as good as a freak can be. The child had beautiful black hair and sad green eyes. His skin was pale and was covered in bruises. His hair was sticky with blood and it ran down his face. His uncle had hit him hard on the back of his head today. He wasn't sure why but he was sure he had something wrong.

His name was Harry Potter, the boy-who-lived, but he was called freak. So that's what he believed his name was, Freak. He shivered, it was winter and his uncle forgot to give him a blanket. His uncle forgot to get him warmer clothing too. But one of the rules was to never ask questions. Along with don't talk until told to do so, to do what he was told and to never ever make noise.

The boy opened his eyes and watched his breath in the air. He didn't want to die here. He knew he would die, eventually. For a boy like him, thinking and having thoughts were common. He thought about a lot of things, even death. He didn't want to die here, that is what he always thought.

"…I wish…I wish I could have a family. I don't care who or what they are, so long as I get to call them family…I wish…I wish for a family so much…" His voice cracked.

Then he quickly covered his mouth, crying was considered making noise. But he couldn't stop and it hurt so much. Without even realizing it, his body began to glow a bright lively green. He heard heavy footsteps coming from upstairs and knew he was in trouble. But his magic didn't care, it would fulfill his wish.

It would take him away from this dark and morbid place. It would take him to a place where he is unknown. A place where he would find the kind of family he always wanted. It would take him to a family that would protect, nurture and care for him. It didn't have a chance to do so before but now it did.

In one bright flash, Harry Potter, the boy-who-lived disappeared from Private Drive, from the world all together.

-Alternate Dimension(year: 2547)—

War. That was all that is known and all that anyone saw. The humans were up against the Covenant. Although the war was still going on, the humans were about to lose the battle. The covenant warriors were attacking a supply base. It was small but it didn't matter. This is war. It is the end and the beginning.

One Sangeili covered in white armor was patrolling a corridor, wincing slightly with every step he took. He was a Special Ops Commander, named Ori'Jar, who was stuck with a petty mission to preoccupy his time. The death of humans barely satisfied his contempt. His wound served only to aggravate his mood.

During the battle, one of the humans managed to wound him. Although the wound was minor, he wasn't going to take any chances and kept looking for medical supplies to keep the wound from opening further. He did not need some upstart from a minor clan attempting to usurp his command for such a little thing.

When he opened on door, he breathed in relief, it was a medical station. Ori' Jar started to look around, hoping to find something he could use. It was times like these he was thankful he could speak and read the human language.

However, the elite had his back turned so he didn't see the energy forming behind him until his motion tracker alerted him to the strange activity. He quickly turned around with a plasma rifle drawn and stared. The space in front of him was swirling with a mass of energy. It crackled like lightening and glowed bright green.

It was wild and excited, as it searched the area around it; it noticed the Elite standing there with its rifle dangling limply in its hand. The magic was heavy in the air as it 'scented' the alien. It buried itself in its memories, in its life. Although it sensed no ill intent, it could not risk that changing. No, rather, it would not risk it. Thus, with the will and power of its caster, so vague and desperate, it carefully exposed its precious cargo. Now that it could no longer be bound by the old one's magic, it could help its once helpless child.

The boy was gently placed on the ground, and the only witness in shock, with its guard down, the magic struck. quick and sure, it bound Ori'Jar to the child. It mattered not who or what happened across the little mage now. All would love him, all would care for him and, if need be, all would die for him. As broken as the magic was from the child, as splintered, it still sought his safety. The magic crackled and snapped at the walls, chairs, beds, and the floor around the child. It left scorch marks around him, making a protective circle around him then stopped and waited.

The Commander was shocked silent and didn't move. After a moment he took one step closer to get a better look of the child. He couldn't tell if it was male or female since it was curled up in a ball, but it looked injured. However, he did know that some of the markings looked like it was beaten, perhaps he should put the thing out of its misery-no, no, that's wrong, care for him, protect him-they were human markings, made by human hands.

Ori'Jar felt his stomach lurch as he came to a chilling conclusion. Humans harmed their young. Were they not supposed to protect their young? This predicament confused him. Why would any human harm its own kind? Ori'Jar was brought out of his thought as the child slowly opened its eyes. Ori'Jar gasped and drew the boy's attention towards him. The child's eyes were beautiful!

They shone the rarest green he had ever seen. Such rarity was considered a blessing by the Sangeili. He almost mistook him for a female but the scent, now that a slight breeze picked up, proved it was male.

"You are a boy?" Ori'Jar asked, there wasn't any harm is double checking.

The boy slowly sat up and nodded his head. Ori'Jar looked at the boy head to foot and noted that he was both injured and malnourished.

"What is your name?" The boy hesitated and Ori'Jar mentally frowned.

Being a warrior for the Covenant had shown him many things, including torture in order to extract information. During his training he had noticed how a human acted after torture, they were either completely too terrified to say anything or completely hateful and waiting to die.

"It's alright, child. I will not harm you. No one will harm you."

Ori'Jar walked closer to the boy and into the circle, he ignored the glow it gave and bent down to pick him up off the floor. Once he was in Ori'Jar's arms however, the circle erupted, trapping the two inside. The Sangeili nearly dropped the boy in shock but was by some unknown force paralyzed. He could not move of his own will. The floor inside the circle glowed brightly before it died down. Ori'Jar did not fail to notice that his wound was gone and stared at the boy in his arms.

"Will you tell me your name?"

"…Freak" He whispered.

There was a pregnant pause and Ori'Jar gave a low growl. However, the child needed to be taken care of so he pushed his rage down and sat the boy on one of the beds. Ori'Jar got some healing ointment and applied it to the boy's body. Then he looked at the boy's head and quickly tended to it. There was some glass imbedded in his scalp. He also had a twisted ankle and a few broken ribs. This child needed proper medical aid.

After wrapping a bandage around the boy's head, he picked the boy up again, gently. Stepping into the hall, Ori'Jar looked around him and walked into one of the doors near the end of the hall. When he stepped inside he was not surprised to find several grunts and other brothers from his company rummaging around the human's eating quarters.

Ori'Jar growled in annoyance and all at once the noise stopped. They were staring at the human child in their Commander's arms. Ori'Jar walked over to the kitchen area and finding some human food left over, he put the child down in front of it. When the child looked longingly at it but didn't touch it, Ori'Jar nudged the child with his hand and ushered him to eat. When the child began to eat, slowly but nonetheless, Ori'Jar faced his comrades.

"Comrades, do not think my judgment has failed me. However-"

"What are you doing with a human?" one of his brothers demanded.

"A human child, at that. If they find out we'll be in even greater danger."

"We won't." Ori'Jar snarled. He would not have them disrespect him. He would make them see what he saw.

"The other humans do not know of his existence. The child appeared before me in an array of emerald light. He is injured and afraid but not of us. Or are you too blind to see the human inflicted wounds that cover his body?"

The other covenant warriors looked pass their leader and at the child that looked back at them without fear but rather with fascination. It was as if the child had never seen or knew they existed. They did notice the markings on his body, although they were beginning to fade, the inflictions were distinguishable. They were made from a human. Unknown to them, care/protect/love/care/protect/love-they, too, were bound to the child.

"So he was harmed by the humans…" They were stunned silent.

"…what do we do with him?" asked a grunt as it shuffled from foot to foot.

"I plan on keeping him. I don't plan on showing him off to the world or to the entire covenant either. I am hoping everyone here is willing to keep this secret." One spoke up.

"Agreed, but perhaps the rest of the group should be told of his existence so that they don't try to kill him."

"I'll go get them, if that is alright with you, Commander."

"Yes, it would be for the best. Bring the others here; the fighting has stopped for the time being. It should give us some time." Ori'Jar watched as two of his elites went to get the rest of the group. They were much more willing to accept him than Ori'Jar thought.

When everyone was assembled, there were six sangheili, ten grunts, four Hunters, and seven jackals. It wasn't a large group but they were efficient and survived, thus far. Ori'Jar told them about how the child was summoned, what the boy believed his name was, and the boy's injuries. Afterwards, the hall became silent, yet everyone understood. Love/protect/care/loveprotectcare!- To be harmed by your own is like being killed over and over without end. They accepted him.

"Well, child, it seems you will be staying with us. Now, how about a different name?" Ori'Jar looked at the small human on the floor.

The elite noticed the look of pure joy when he said the boy was staying. The others seemed to notice it as well and shifted to get a better look at him. Ori'Jar made it easier for them by picking the boy up and setting him down on the countertop. The elites walked up to the boy and introduced themselves.

There were two Minor Domo (blue/purple) Sangheili named Jaren and Navvi, the other three were Major Domo Sangheili (red elites) named Nequra, Ryoku, and Setrae. The Hunters also moved closer to the boy. Although they were huge in size and looked like barbicans, they are actually just as intelligent as the elites. They couldn't make up strategies but they are excellent fighters and loyal to their brethren.

The hunters introduced themselves as well. They did not have true names like the others but they did have names that were 'bestowed' to them to make it easier for commanders to There was Zhou, Kaihu, Ohba and his brother, Obata. They didn't normally interact with humans on friendly bases so it wasn't a surprise that they were portrayed as mindless killing machines. The grunts and the jackals were standing up on the tables waving at the child and making him laugh. All the tension left the room leaving it feeling very comfortable for the child.

"So what shall we name you, hm?"

"What about bunny?" Jaren asked, which earned him a glare

"We are not naming him after prey." Ori'Jar growled

"Kyo or Trimor?"

"Macer...er, Anveer?"

"Evaan, Erag, or Arag?"

"No, No, No, No, No, No and No."

"Arcana?"

"No-wait, what?" Obata blinked and repeated himself.

"Hmm, maybe. What do you think of the name Arcana?" Ori'Jar looked at the child who was watching them argue. He remained quiet.

"Come on little one. No one is going to hurt you. But the name you were given is disgusting. You do not deserve your treatment. We will take care of you. Now, you have to help us…do you like Arcana?"

"…um…I like Arcana…" the boy spoke quietly.

"Then you are from now on, Arcana." Orion said lightly patting the boy's on the head.

"It would be difficult to protect him in our current position. The human's numbers are growing." Ohba put in

"That is true; however, the Prophets should have known that the humans would not give this place up so easily. The humans keep a close watch on these places."

"Why would the Prophets send us to such a worthless place, a suicide mission?" Navvi snarled

"Let's not question their motives just yet. Let's worry about Arcana's and our own safety. I want everyone back at their post, this time be on guard at all times." Ordered Ori'Jar.

The group dispersed and the hall was soon empty. Ori'Jar turned to Arcana, nuzzled his head in Arcana's side and purred, causing the boy to giggle. Ori'Jar stood up and grinned at the boy. Then he picked Arcana up and into his arms. He left the lunch room to find a suitable hiding place until help arrived.

But in the back of his mind, Ori'Jar wondered if Arcana was safer here, at a covenant ship or on Orion's home base. Looking into Arcana's eyes, Ori'Jar knew, wherever the place may be, he would protect his child. The image of that wild and untamed green energy surrounding Arcana in a cocoon of protection flashed briefly in his mind.

'My precious emerald child, I will protect you.'

Unknowingly, the Commander's eyes briefly glazed over a milky green...before vanishing completely.

And that wraps up chapter one Rewrite. Freaking finally!