(High Charity, December 14, 1713)
Agatha awoke to a low purple glow surrounding her. She was in a room in which the air was cool and steady and her bed was warm. When she pulled the sheets that were covering her body she found that she was dressed in white robes with silver lining across the neckline. She then got up from the bed and saw a desk with her sword that Ripa had given her, she grabbed it and placed it on her belt line. She then turned to her left and saw a door and judging by its shape and design she was sure that she on a ship of some sort. The door seemed unlocked and, out of curiosity, Agatha walked toward it as it slid open. Her feet was bare and she could feel the cold metal against her skin as she walked towards a deck. When she emerged from the room she knew where she was. The holy city High Charity. She could tell by the huge planet sized dome that covered her head and by the forerunner ship that sat in the center of it all. As many times as she has been here, it always seemed peaceful seeing the ancient ship alone as it sits there waiting for something. Something that Agatha does not yet know.
After a while of complete silence Agatha heard a door open behind her. As she turned around, she saw Ripa standing in front of her, "Ripa!" She said with a excited cry. "Aggie.", Ripa replied as he knelt down to her height to hug her. After a minute or so Agatha broke away and asked in a modest tone, "What happened? Why are we on High Charity?" Ripa looked at her with straight face and said, "We were watching you, Aggie. We saw everything. I couldn't be any prouder of you than I am this day. I am willing to bet that your mother would have been too." Agatha blushed. It's been a long time since anyone, even her, had spoken of her mother. But there was not a day that went by without Agatha thinking of her and wondering what she would think of her now. She paused for a moment and asked, "How long has it been since my journey ended ?" Ripa answered with a quivering in his mandibles, "Four days and nights. If we hadn't come to you in time, you would have surely died. I thought you wouldn't make it." Agatha reached out and hugged him and said in words so soft, "Its alright Ripa, I am here, I have survived, and I will always be." Ripa smiled at the young girl's remark and it gave him hope. He then patted her back with a rub with the last pat. He broke away and said, "Now lets get you to the Hierarchs. I believe they will want to see you." Then they walked, hand in hand, to the sanctum of the Hierarchs
(Sanctum of the Hierarchs, High Charity)
"Noble Prophets of Peace and Knowledge, I bring news of Agatha's well being",said an Sangheili guard kneeling while entering the sanctum. Peace turned his grav-chair towards the Sangheili along with Knowledge and asked, "And?" The Sangheili looked towards the San-Shyuum and replied with rejoicing in his voice, "She is alive, Noble Prophets. She has survived. Surely your wisdom and graces have shown in its full, now that her claim as a god as been proven..." "Yes, yes thank you for bringing this to my attention. You may leave." Peace interrupted giving Knowledge a hand gesture meaning I tier of this praise. As do I old friend, Knowledge returned the gesture. As the Sangheili guard with a sigh to Hierarchs turned towards the window and looked toward the stars. Knowledge leaned closer to Peace's ear breaking the silence, "I thought you said she wouldn't survive." Peace replied rubbing his chin. "The likelihood of survival was to be slim to none but yet she walks." Knowledge, with a growl in his voice said. "Sure it may be, but does this not fill your heart with worry of a shift in power?" Peace slid his body back in his chair with his fingers gracefully rubbing his chin and replied, "But of course I do, but she can still be of a tool to us. As long as she does not lead others astray from our power, she is nothing to us but a tool." Knowledge looked to Peace with a weary, yet alarming, glare and said, "Yes, indeed, but what of Ripa? What are we to do with him? This..." he hesitated "...relationship between the two surely this can not be ignored." Peace gave a smile to Knowledge, " You're right their bond has grown to a alarming state. But all we can do is tread carefully and pray for the best."
Agatha and Ripa walked to the sanctum with joy in their hearts and playful spirits filled with songs of joy. About two thirds of the way there Ripa looked towards Agatha and smiled her way. Agatha returned the smile with a child-like grin. She then took the curve blade Ripa gave to her out and stared at the light reflecting off of it with great awe. Ripa took notice and looked down at her and said in a gentle tone, "Is everything alright? Why have we stopped?" Agatha looked to him and raising the blade in her arm replied, "Nothing, but this is your blade and I will now return it to its owner." Ripa knelt to her eye level and placed his right arm on her shoulder and said to her, "I gave it to you though. You have proven your worth and have earned your keep. Keep it and always keep it close." Agatha lowered the blade slightly and held it with closed hand, looking down at it for a moment then back to Ripa. "T...thank you I...I am honored to be given this blade", she said with wide eyes and a baffled face. In reality she was overwhelmed with a sense of trust and the feeling of friendship. Ripa smiled at her and replied, "I wish it serves you as well as it did me when I was of your age. Now we must go for we do not wish to keep Hierarchs waiting."
Ripa and Agatha walked ,while passing honor guards, they looked to each other with smiles and thoughts of home flooding their minds. As the sanctum door opened and the two walked past the last honor guards, they saw the Hierarch upon their floating thrones. As soon as they noticed the two, Ripa went to his knees and bowed to the prophets but Agatha stood there next to Ripa. Although this would usually lead to death both Peace and Knowledge knew if she did bow it would lead to great controversy among the High Council, which Peace wanted to avoid when it came to Agatha. "Greetings, Agatha, has your rest been to your liking?" Agatha nodded lightly with a smile showing across her face. Peace then turned to Ripa and said to him, "And greetings to you Supreme Commander." Ripa stood and replied, "Thank you noble prophets." Peace then tilted his head toward Agatha and said,"We have heard of your journey through the unforgiving wilderness of Sanghilos. Truly your title must be true for someone as young as you to survive." Agatha smiled but also felt annoyed at the "title" Peace spoke of but no matter who said it she would still feel annoyed by it. Peace then said "Agatha may we have a word with Ripa alone?" Agatha nodded and walked to the gardens of High Charity
As soon as Agatha left Peace's face became more firm and less pleasant as he seemed more menacing and turned towards Ripa. Ripa cleared throat and was about to speak when Peace held his hand up and spoke in a firm tone. "Supreme Commander, Will you explain your relationship with the goddess of whom we given her shared residents with you?" Ripa eyes widen and his heart raced as he began to spoke "I...Noble Hierarchs, I..." Knowledge interrupted Ripa with a crack in his voice and disputed tone. "And this name you gave her, Aggie, have brought us to believe that your relationship with Agatha is up for questioning. And I will add , Supreme Commander, that if this relationship gets any more..." Knowledge paused for a moment trying to finding the right word to describe this, what he would consider, blasphemy. "...daughter-like it would lead us to question your loyalty towards the Covenant? Towards her?" Ripa lost his words as he tried to roll his mandibles to utter sound. He saw Peace lift his hand and looked towards Knowledge. Peace placed a hand on his friends' shoulder and said with a strong tone, "Calm yourself Knowledge. Ripa knows full well of the punishments of heresy such as this. You do not need to remind him." The prophets met each other eyes as Knowledge nodded with his chin straying as he nodded. Peace patted his friends shoulder before turning back to the now kneeling Ripa and said, "May this be a warning to you, Supreme Commander, keep to your faith and stand firm. Do not let the kindness of her holy light blind you. Do you understand Supreme Commander?" Ripa stood and, with great zeal, howled, "My faith is strong in the Covenant and the Great Journey! I shall not be blind by any light even holy!" Peace relaxed in his ani-grav throne and with a raising of his hand he said, "Good. Now off with you and remember, taking care of Agatha is a mission and nothing more." Ripa nodded to peace and stormed out of the Sanctum towards the gardens where Agatha waited.
As Agatha waited for Ripa, she placed her feet in a small pond and watched the fish, from the old forgotten world of Janjur Qom, swim with their fins waving with the soft puddles of the pond. Around her stood small trees that resembled those on Sangheilos with their greenish-yellow leaves waving through the draft of High Charity's vents. Also around her were different species of Kig-Yar, noble Sangheili, two huge hulking beast known as Mgalegolo, and even a Huragok floating beside the Mgalgolo in a pattern-like fashion. She closed her eyes for a moment and imagined the peaceful scenery of the tree where her mother once took her when her hurt seemed endless. She imagined her mother sitting beside her, beneath the shade of the tree that stood in a field of lust wild flowers and a blue sky above.
After some time lost in her thoughts, she was reeled back into reality by the touch of a hand on her shoulder. She look up to find Ripa, resting beside her with his hand perched on her shoulder. Agatha looked into his eyes and asked, "Is it time to go home?" Ripa nodded and helped her up. They walked through the garden and up to the halls which led to the hanger. As they walked not a word was said. The only sounds that they could hear was the clucking of Ripa's boots and the patting of Agatha's bare feet against the metal floor of the halls. This made Agatha worried for she felt something was wrong. So they walked towards the hanger in silence.
They made it to the hanger where Agatha saw once again the Shadow Star of Eternal Life. The same super carrier that Ripa commanded which had brought her to this place only a year ago. There she saw Ripa's Major and the ships' first officer ,Sesa Vadamee, standing next to a catwalk over next to the door Ripa and Agatha had just walked out of. Agatha had only met him once when Ripa was showing her basic ship battle tactics over a month ago. "Sesa, is the ship ready?", Ripa asked. Sesa replied, "Yes, Commander, the crew is eager to get home." "Good, It is time to go home", Ripa said. Sesa looked down to Agatha and smiled. They did form a slight bond during their time together so this was not unfamiliar to Agatha and she returned to him a smile as well. Sesa then said, "Hello Agatha. I hope you rested well." Agatha nodded. "Well, Ripa told me about your journey through the wilderness. I must say I am impressed. You have truly earned a high rank in my eyes. Perhaps you can tell me more about it when we get home." He started to laugh slightly making both Ripa and Agatha chuckle for a moment. They walked over the catwalk to the ship and boarded. After they were on the bridge Ripa put all fears aside by smiling at Agatha. Putting his hand on her shoulder, he said, "Aggie, I want you to know I am very proud of you." Agatha smiled and hugged his leg and muttered the words in such a low volume Ripa couldn't hear, "I love you." Ripa heard nothing and patted her back. The ship soon lifted out of the hanger and disappeared into the dark color of space, heading to Sanghilos.