Hello FanFictioner! :) Long time no see!
I apologize for being away for so long. I took Summer to its full potential and really had no time to post.
So...Let's see if I've gone rusty or not.
This is my very first Halo Fic, and I have only played the games...which means I haven't read the books. :)
This FanFic is basically what I think or rather WISH happened after halo 3. Everything after Chapter one will be me winging it as far as guessing the Sangheili culture and home world. So if anything is SEVERELY wrong, please tell me. :D
(And don't worry, I will continue my HTTYD stories as well, but I've been planning this for a LONG time and REALLY want to do this first. ...So sue me.)
I hope you like it, and look foreword to your reviews! ;) Please review.
OH! And also!
DISCLAIMER: I do not own Halo's characters, I do not own Halo, and I am not associated with Bungie or 343 Studios.
I ONLY own my OCs!
Good luck in the world of writing!
I bid thee farewell...DRAF out!
"Return to Sangheilios"
CHAPTER 1
"The War at it's End"
It was over…
No matter how many times he ran that through his head, he still fought to believe it. The destruction of the Ark, the retreat of the Covenant...the Flood's containment.
After 28 years the battle was at its end.
He could remember his time with the Covenant, as a shipmaster, then ultimately a Supreme Commander. But he was no longer proud of his past. His greatest failure had caused for the shame of the Arbiter to be passed down onto his shoulders. It was funny, to think such a name would have at one time withheld a meaning of power and honor.
In the days of his ancestors, the title 'Arbiter' had been the title of Kings. They led the Sangheili through the ages and embraced the very meaning of honor and unity. That was until the vile San Shayumm came to their planet and convinced them into slavery of the Covenant. For a long while the Arbiter served as the Prophets' errand boy...At least that was what Thel thought the humans called it.
400 years ago one Arbiter had stood up to the Prophets and their lies, only to have been cut down and forever branded by the Mark of Shame. His choice stained the role forever; the role of a soul's last chance to regain some honor before his demise. A sliver of honor amidst the greatest of shames.
Although the Covenant was now shattered and he no longer their Arbiter, Thel couldn't shake the deeds of his past. He was a murderer; with the lives of a billion humans stained red by his sword. If only he could have seen the signs of the Prophet's lies; discovered the true meaning of the rings before he was unleashed upon the Humans without mercy.
The weight of his burden made the battle's victory bittersweet. Why had the humans agreed to trust him? Did they not call him the Destroyer of Worlds in the past? Was he no longer their enemy, even after what he had done? His failure to return their Demon home made it all the worse.
Whatever the reason; the Hillside Memorial gave him the chance to lessen the burden. If he could not change his past; then maybe he could pay respects to the dead and hopefully ease the conflict in his mind.
Earth, was a land of waste and recuperating beauty. The roiling clouds of smoke and ash had dispersed yet the scars from the glassings still smoldered on the surface like cooling magma. Walls crumbled and parts of the city threatened to disintegrate into dust.
Thel 'Vadam stood on the beach near the land the humans called "Voi", located in East Africa.
His hands were clenched at his sides, and his amber eyes stared unblinking out onto the horizon.
Not far away on a grassy hillside just above where he stood there was a Pelican Dropship's wing, imbedded into the earth after falling down from the sky.
The UNSC had found it that way, facing the ocean in such a beautiful place untouched by devastation. It inspired them to make it a memorial to all the fallen soldiers. Today was the official ceremony.
Sun setting in the distance, the clouds above were painted a soft array of pinks and purples. The air was warm and a light breeze blew in from the sea.
Suddenly, Thel heard a loud voice pierce the air and he flinched, holding himself from reaching to his side for a gun that was not there.
War had made him far to uneasy.
Letting out a low snort he turned and stalked up the beach towards the single piece of debris. A crowd of humans had gathered; some of them survivors while others soldiers, come to pay respects to their fallen brethren.
When the single Sangheili male approached some looked up with saddened expressions, while others fought to keep a small look of anger to themselves
He dared not to stand too close, but off to the side. Even from there he could get a good look at the Memorial.
The green metal of the ship's wing was perfectly intact, and on it's face were the words in white print.
"A Memorial Of Those Fallen In Defense Of Earth And Her Colonies. -March 3, 2553-"
Thel grimaced and lowered his gaze in a moment of silence, for both the humans and his own brothers that had perished.
*A stand that shall never be forgotten.*
Under the Memorial's words were pictures of the humans that had died in battle. With them hung medals, uniform caps, trinkets, and other items placed there by family and friends.
Sunflowers decorated the base in bright cups and vases.
Suddenly, a familiar voice spoke out and Thel looked up.
Beside the Ship's wing stood a line of human soldiers in partial battle uniform, holding rifles in their hands. Just before the Memorial stood Lord Hood.
Thel watched the man remove his uniform's cap and begin to speak.
"For us, the storm has passed...the war is over..."
He took a deep breath, "But let us never forget those who journeyed into the howling dark, and did not return."
Thel could remember what it was like returning form the portal, being found by the rescue teams in the water surrounding the Foreword Onto Dawn. He remembered their faces when he claimed the Master Chie left behind. Some were angry with him, some too dismayed to be so.
He tried to focus on Lord Hood, who sighed."
"For their decision required courage beyond measure. Sacrifice. And unshakable conviction that their fight...our fight...was elsewhere."
"As we start to rebuild, this hillside will remain barren. A memorial to heroes fallen...They ennobled all of us...and shall not be forgotten."
Going silent the man replaced his cap onto his head and held up a salute, nodding to the men holding the rifles.
The leader of them shouted, "Present arms!"
A strange human ceremony, Thel watched as they fired three shots into the air; the ringing tone echoing through the mountains farther inland.
When the sound quieted and the crowd dispersed, Thel walked up to join Lord Hood.
As he approached the man nodded, "I remember how this war started. What your kind did to mine."
Thel winced, but the human continued, "I can't forgive you...But...you have my thanks...for standing by him to the end."
The Arbiter went wide eyed as Lord Hood extended his hand.
*By the rings...*
He was right about them not forgiving him or his race just yet...but Lord Hood's reaction was more than reassuring.
Tentatively taking the small human hand he shook it and the human sighed.
"It's hard to believe he's dead."
He was speaking of the Demon...Master Chief.
Thel grimaced and nodded, "Were it so easy."
For years the SPARTAN had evaded the Covenant and always managed to defeat them. He was like the Arbiter of the Sangheilis; nearly impossible to kill and with the heart of a warrior. Maybe that was why Thel related to him...
It was a shame Cheif did not make it through the portal; that he had failed to deliver the entire body of the Foreword Onto Dawn back to the humans.
Taking in a breath the Sangheili lifted his gaze. Up above them, the Assault Carrier Shadow of Intent stalled in the sky waiting for the Arbiter's return. Looking up at it with a sigh, Thel gave Lord Hood one last glance and a nod. The man returned the gesture and moved to step away from the hillside.
Stalking in the opposite direction Thel made way for the nearby beach. The hot sand gave warmth to the bottom of his hooves and he stood there for a moment in silence. Then connecting with the giant ship above through the com links he snorted, "Send a transport down to pick me up R'tas...I am ready."
His friend's voice came through with a quiver of static, "I thank you for going to the memorial, Arbiter...I did not have the heart to stand in front of those humans..."
Thel nodded, "We are not forgiven of our past mistakes...but they thank us none the less."
There was no answer, and the sound of a ship's engine came to ear.
Looking up he came to see a Phantom approaching, preparing himself to board.
It hovered up above him, and a gravity beam reached down to lift him into the cargo bay.
Inside there was no one to accompany him, just the feeling of the pilot's presence from the other side of the cockpit's doors. Standing near the side doors Thel became silent as the ship soared up towards the Shadow of Intent.
Arriving moments later, he made way to the commanding deck, nodding to the occasional passing Sangheili as he walked through the dimly lit halls.
Taking gravity lifts and elevator, he finally came to the command deck, and stepping through the sliding doors he entered a large dark room.
The walls, like the rest of the ship's interior, were a dark metallic blue. The only light coming from small green orbs along the walls.
In the middle of the room was a hologram table, currently showing the picture of a lush green and blue planet. To the left was a platform, which held the Shipmaster's chair.
Thel's attention was however drawn to a white armored Sangheili standing before the hologram table. He was the only soul in the room at the moment; the crew probably sent to rest after the long battle.
The figure was R'tas; his arms folded across his chest and his green eyes examining the world before him. It was familiar to Thel; their home world Sangheilios.
Hearing his footsteps R'tas looked up and lowered his arms.
Speaking with a tone of suppressed sadness he sighed, "Things look different without the Prophets' lies clouding my vision."
He gestured to the Hologram table where the picture of their planet flickered, "But I would like to see our own world...to know that it is safe."
Thel blinked. That was one of the first times R'tas addressed him by his actual name rather than Arbiter, but he did not let it falter him.
Memories of Sangheilios came to mind and he glanced at the hologram. Then, speaking strongly to reassure his friend, he put a hand on his shoulder.
"Whatever you wish, Shipmaster."
But R'tas shook his head and chuckled, "Pardon me, Arbiter...but I request to resign from my duties as Shipmaster..."
Thel went wide eyed and his friend smiled behind two mandibles, "Before the Covenant stripped you of your ranking you were Supreme Commander. My place of ranking may not be as high...but their choice to shame you was unjustified."
The male nodded before stepping away, "I feel you deserve the position, after what you have done to help end this war."
This made Thel's eyes widen in surprise. R'tas was surrendering his position to him...
*By the rings...*
Turning his gaze to the Shipmaster's chair at the end of the room, his breath hitched and he fought to control it. Then standing straight he extended his chest with pride, before nodding to his friend, "Then fear not...For we shall make it so."
R'tas nodded with a smile, putting his fist against his chest, "By your words, Arbiter."
Thel stared at his 'throne' if you must call it that, stepping towards it and putting his hand over the arm rest. He ran his fingers over the long forgotten feel of the chairs cold steel and leather.
Seating himself into the comfort of the Shipmaster's chair, he took a deep breath and nodded to R'tas, who now stood at the Auto Pilot controls.
"Take us home."