AN: Well this seems to be a worthwhile story to write so I'll focus on it while I wait for the polling of my other one. So yeah here we go.

Disclaimer: I don't own anything to do with halo, games or books.

The amphitheatre cleared out quickly as veterans ushered us out to wait for our commanders. Recodo was ecstatic about the idea of battle and made sure I knew, "Yes finally a chance to be in a real battle," he cried his mandibles turned up in an even bigger smile, "A chance to earn honor and be victorious, it's incredible isn't it?" he turned to look at me.

I stared at my new combat boots that had no markings on their gleaming surface. I sighed looking at the boots of the veterans, scratches and dried blood covered theirs if not dents or breaks. I had never been the Sangheili's version of normal, instead of loving combat I had chosen to spend my time helping my mother with the menial tasks. I didn't belong here, I had no fight in me and most likely never would.

I thought back to the days my father had tried to teach me how to fight. He had continuously tried to find my "blood spur" as he put it. The thing that sent me my blood boiling into a rage. He had tried time and time again and never found it. I expected to die in this army before to long.

So engrossed in my thoughts I was that when Jeradoo spoke I jumped, "Well looks like it's time," he said, "Recodo please go with Saderg for your evaluation." Recodo nodded and followed Saderg down one of the many halls. Jeradoo motioned for me to follow him and I obliged. For many units we walked through the ship before stopping in front of a small door. Jeradoo placed his hand on a small machine near the door and it slid open and we walked through.

The room was huge a full beam rifles range in every direction. At one end were pads for those training with the rifles and pistols would stand. At the scattered over the vast majority of the room were hologram projectors where the targets would appear. One area that caught my attention was settled in a corner behind the range, it was a small dueling ring and in the containers around it were lined several inactive energy blades.

I stared at it in awe remembering what I had been told about them. Only the better of the warriors were allowed to wield them and they were the most feared of all the covenant's weaponry. I looked on and sighed, there was no way I would even be allowed near them, much less to hold one. I turned back to Jeradoo.

He looked at me with great intensity and said, "Back on the phantom you never did introduce yourself," he sat down, "care to begin?" he asked. I shifted uncomfortably as I sat down, "It's really not all that interesting to hear about me sir." I replied sullenly. He continued to stare at me, "Recruit Ferdu Ganailee," I jumped at the use of my full title, "as your commanding officer it is my duty to know as much about you as I can, so anything you say is of interest to me, now please begin."

So I began telling him as I tell you now my story, " Well I was born in a smaller colony that no one really knew about. At a young age my father tried to teach me to be a warrior, but he could never get through to me, so he left to rejoin the ranks leaving me alone with my mother and sisters as my brothers went with him. I grew to be compassionate like my sisters, with a respect for all life."

" I continued to grow and I learned all about the covenant as I could and respected the way they allied every species for peace." I paused at the next memory, as it was both vague and disturbing. Jeradoo looked at me, motioning me to continue, "One day a warrior came to our abode, he had drank too much deserdai and tried to grope my sister. I remember standing between him and her, snarling for him to leave at once. He punched me and threw me out of the way."

I choked on the next part and he noticed, "What is wrong Ferdu?" he asked. I looked into his eyes and saw he was concerned, "I fell to the ground and cursed my own weakness. She called out my name and I stood up with anger pushing through my veins. Everything blurred and I remember the warrior screaming as well as my sister, but they were drowned out by a voice I didn't recognize roaring in anger."

"I woke up later and felt a liquid all over me, so I opened my eyes and stared in horror." I shivered at the memory, "The warrior was no longer in one piece, but strewn everywhere and his blood covered me from head to hoof. I asked my sister who had done this and she pointed at me saying, 'you did.' I was horrified and swore I would never fight again. Now this happens and I must break my vow, I shouldn't even be here I don't know how to fight."

I looked pleadingly at him and knew I was going to get the "you coward" speech. However, he just smiled, confusing me fully. He stood and walked over to me and placed a hand on my shoulder, "Then you and I are not so different, I didn't want to fight so I was placed in the reserves until one day we were called out. That day I knew I was destined to fail, but I didn't and do you want to know why?" I nodded curious.

He looked into my eyes and yet past me to a distant memory, "That was the day I met my mate. She and her squad were fighting a losing battle and had called for reinforcements. I was part of the platoon that went to aid her squad. When I saw her I couldn't help it, I jumped into the midst of the enemy, mindlessly slaughtering them. I earned my promotion to veteran in that one battle."

I stood dumbfounded, my father had always said the blood spur would not be found in the heart and yet my commander's had. I listened intently as Jeradoo continued speaking, "Now you come here saying your father never found your fighting spirit and yet I see it plain as I see you now." He grabbed my hand forcing it over my heart, "This here, right here, is what separates the warriors from the barbarians. If you fight for a reason outside of this one you are a monster."

"Now I want you to remember what you felt here when you attacked that warrior. NOT here," he poked my head, "but in your heart." He waited for me to remember, so I thought back…

Flashback

I was tending to the small garden near our home with my sister, our mother out. We smiled and laughed as we made small talk, "So, my sister, I hear you have attracted the entire male population of the neighborhood." She giggled stiffly, "Oh stop it you, I'm still young, but your still the little brother." I poked her in the shoulder playfully.

She looked at me with an odd gleam in her eyes, "Have you given any thought into obtaining a mate, my brother?" I chuckled softly, the truth was I had never felt that connection to any female of my own race, but I wasn't about to tell her that, "No, dear sister, I have not."

She stopped what she was doing and tapped her upper left mandible, something she did when she had an idea, "Well a family moved in a block down and they have a girl about your age, pretty little thing too." I rolled my eyes, "Dear sister, I will chose a mate when I am ready and not before and I will not have you chose one for me."

She pouted as she resumed her work and I smiled, she always tried to make me feel guilty. I slowly became aware of a low humming and I would have ignored it if I hadn't smelled the stench of deserdai coming toward us. This smell always meant bad news here. The warrior rounded the corner, still in his blazing crimson armor. He had probably drank to his recent promotion seeing as the armor was new and I had no problem with that, but I did with what he did next.

As he came around the corner, walking in a sideways motion he saw us, or more specifically, my sister. He walked toward us and I smelled the scent I could only describe as arousal. I stepped between him and my sister, "Excuse me sir, are you lost?" I asked politely. He looked at me through glazed eyes, "No, but you can get lost, I want to talk with the pretty little thing there." he spat. I felt rather than saw her step back in fear, "I'm sorry, but it appears she doesn't want to talk, now please leave." I growled.

His fist nailed me in the jaw, breaking one of my mandibles, as I flew threw the air to land several feet away. I clutched my jaw and heard him take a step toward my sister. I climbed to my feet and jumped on the warrior's back only to be flung off and hit the ground hard. His hoof slammed into my gut. I doubled over in pain and heard my sister yell something I couldn't understand.

"Now stay on the damn ground!" the warrior snarled. I lay there, cursing my own weakness. I knew he was going to do something to her if I didn't get up, but I had no energy left, the pain was immense. She shouted my name in a squeak and my head shot up. He was reaching toward her and she kept backing up. The fear in her eyes burned into my mind.

A new sensation coursed threw my body, a deep burning that came from my chest, but I didn't care. I now had energy again and stood slowly. My sister looked at me and the warrior followed her gaze to see me getting up, "I thought I said stay on the ground I guess you didn't get it the first time!" he spat, charging fist raised.

Before I knew what had happened my hand caught his fist and twisted it backwards. A loud snap was heard as his wrist broke and he cried out in pain. I looked into his now tearing eyes and whispered, "You should have just kept walking you bastard." Then things went blank.

End flashback

What I had felt had registered in my mind and I looked at my chest. I looked up to see Jeradoo nodding, "Now you understand and now you will fight, correct?" he asked. I nodded and he dragged me to the weapon racks near the range. He tossed me a plasma rifle, it felt wrong in my hand, but it was standard issue so I listened as he taught me to use it.

After a long lecture he activated the projectors and had me use them as target practice. I learned quickly and used the weapon well, but I just didn't feel right with it. I was about to fire at another target when it dispersed. I looked over at Jeradoo, who had deactivated the holograms. He nodded to me, "Now we find the weapon that fits you."

I followed him back to the racks and replaced the rifle as he looked over the weapons and me. He reached up and grabbed a carbine and tossed it to me. As I made my way to the range he called out, "No, just hold the weapon and tell me when it feels right to you. The carbine wasn't my weapon. We walked down the racks trying every weapon, but none of them felt right.

As Jeradoo replaced a fuel rod cannon I let my eyes drift to the small dueling ring and the hilts that were the swords. I envisioned myself holding one, saw myself standing there blade in hand, and shivered violently. I shook my head and returned my attention to Jeradoo. He was smiling as he looked from me to the dueling area, "Well, well, well battle shivers?" he looked at me, "I think we found your weapon."

To say my mandibles were stretched to the breaking point was an understatement. As we walked to the blades my mind raced. He couldn't be serious! Me, a lowly recruit, wield an energy sword! I was dreaming!

We reached the swords and he grabbed one and flung it at me yelling, "CATCH." I complied faster than I thought possible with several feet to spare before I caught it. As my hand touched the hilt the blue blade sprang to life. Suddenly I felt alive, the blade had become part of me and I never wanted to let go, ever.

I looked from the blade to him and he laughed, "Yes, I can see it in your eyes, that's your weapon."

His face became stern, as did his voice, "That blade is yours now, no one else's, and you will treat it as such. Even when you are not allowed to carry a pistol you will not be denied your sword, so you will carry it with you everywhere, understand?" I saluted happily shouting, "Yes sir!" He smiled again and turned around.

He reached up and grabbed another blade, activating it as he turned to face me, "Now let's see what you can do with it." he said before he charged. Fear ran threw me as he ran at me and then suddenly a voice, in my head, don't be afraid, it said. It was a male voice and it dripped with wisdom, I will help you.

Before I could ask what it meant I heard a loud pop and Jeradoo seemed to slow down to a walk. My body reacted and my blade came up deflecting his to the side as he tried to bring it down on my head. Quickly I span, kicking out with my right hoof. He caught it and swung his blade sideways, toward my head. I let myself fall back, reaching out with my hands.

His blade cut empty air as I did a handstand and kicked out with my left hoof hitting him in the chest. He flew back, but landed on his hooves and charged again. He caught my back, but I was ready. As he jumped for my back I lashed out with my left hand. I caught him in the nose and he dropped holding his nose.

I stepped forward and he raised a hand, "Enough! By the gods You've never fought with a blade before and yet are so natural with it! I am proud to say you passed the evaluation and are now officially on my squad." We shook hands as I cheered inside. I had done it!

We walked to the exit as a looked at my new blade. I stopped. It was so plain anyone could claim it was theirs, I had to mark it as mine! I walked over to the weapons rack and pulled out a plasma knife, Jeradoo watching what I was doing. The mark should mean something to me, but what. The memory of the burning sensation in my chest returned and suddenly I knew.

With slow, delicate strokes I carved the symbols for the words "heart blade" into the handle. As I replaced the knife Jeradoo saw the symbols and nodded. I was now excited. Then I remembered Recodo. I hoped he had passed Saderg's evaluation.

We walked out and through some more hallways and came to the barracks. As we went to go through the door I heard Recodo yell, "Ferdu, my squad brother." He ran up to me and we clasped each others shoulders. Saderg followed behind growling about "insubordination." Jeradoo looked at his brother, "Well did he-" Saderg cut him off, "He… passed."

I looked at Recodo and noticed a beam rifle slung over his back. I gave his shoulder a squeeze of congratulations and he positively beamed. We followed Jeradoo into the barracks and he pointed at a bed on the floor level built into the wall and another just above it, also built into the wall, "Those will be your beds, now get some rest, you'll need it."

Recodo ran and jumped into the top bed. I didn't mind the bottom so I laid down on it and stared at the ceiling of the "room." I heard snoring from above me and chuckled quietly to myself. I pulled my blade from its resting place on my hip and looked at it. With it in my hand I felt complete, well all most. After remember the conversation I had had with my sister I realized there was still an empty place in my heart. It worried me and I fell asleep with those thoughts…

I was running over rocks and my hooves sank into the dirt. I was scared, there was something chasing me and I didn't want to get caught. I wasn't watching where I was going and ran into something. I ran into a creature roughly my height, but it didn't have an elongated neck and it didn't hunch. It was wearing a green armor and stared down at me. It moved an odd looking weapon to face be. The barrel of the weapon was opened wide and I knew I was going to die , "No please don't, I'm not your enemy." I yelled. I heard my voice play back in another language near the creature's head. The creature bent down near me and it reached to its head and twisted the head off. No not a head, a helmet. The sun fell in my eye and I saw a yellow colored fur on the creature's head, but it was short. I strained to see the face of this creature, but everything started to fade…

AN: yay another chapter and I like where this story's going so I'll stick with this one for a while. Well R&R please. No really would you? Come on I'm begging you.