Halo: The Promethean Guardians
Author's Note
Alright, here's chapter 1... and I don't know if I did good or not, so I am willing to accept any form of Criticism and hope that you all liked it. If not, then I'm sorry.
Chapter 1
Somewhere in the forest that surrounded the war ground of the Pony leaders and the Dragons, there was an old clearing that held many animals, who were unaware of the war, and frolicked about, enjoying the calm and peaceful ways of nature, and also being under the eyes of the predators that lurked within the forest. There was daylight, and there was a lone river down a short ways.
Just then a sphere of black energy appeared in the clearing, causing all of the critters to run upon seeing it, and the clearing was now empty. As for the sphere, five strange, metal beings flew out and crashed into the ground, along with another that held four legs. Once these six were out, the sphere disappeared, leaving the clearing very silent. No sounds, no eyes, no predators, not even prey, for they were too fearful of the metal creatures that laid in the clearing.
Just then one disappeared, and reappeared where it once lay, now floating slightly before it's strange feet touched down on the ground, and it began to look around, scanning the surroundings for anything hostile. It did not move besides that, before it's metallic, and emotionless voice echoed through the forest. "Awaken, Prometheans." The others disappeared, and reappeared where they once stood, while the smaller one rolled onto it's feet. The 'Promethean' then spoke through the connection it held with the others. 'Location is silent, no movement other then creatures... location seems almost abandoned... Hostile Life Form Possibility at 50% from recent scan...'
The others began scanning as well, searching for anything that may have changed after recent scan, but there was nothing. This made one speak as well. 'Location is covered in much vegetation, also unknown world. Slip-Space Rupture is 89% likely for unknown jump, this is expected.'
Another then spoke as it readied it's Light Rifle. 'Battle located 20 miles from this location... unknown life signs and possible intelligence detected.'
The commander of the group readied their Incineration Cannon. 'Keep scanners online, in case of confrontation... do not engage unless threatened.'
The others spoke in unison. 'Command Accepted.'
The six then disappeared in a flash of light, and reappeared on one of the scanned ruined buildings that overlooked the war zone, while the smaller one ran through much of the forest, and climbed up to their sides. They all then began scanning the battle, seeing a army of miniature horses fighting dragons.
'Life signs detected, mythological creatures from Human History detected... scanning... all intelligent.'
The others scanned as well, then looked amongst each other. 'Requesting new orders, Promethean Commander...'
'Acknowledged, activate camouflage and scan for further intel.'
The five Prometheans then disappeared in thin air, while the smaller one crawled down the wall, and hid under a dead horse.
Two of the Prometheans soon stood behind three horses, one with a horn, one with wings, and one without any. They scanned the creatures, and began uploading information, before translation and attack methods were figured out. And they began listening to them when they spoke their own language. “We are making no progress with that massive monster out there,”
'Stress and Fatigue detected, possibly fighting for 6 hours... or less...'
“Something has to give, and soon. Don’t you agree Princess Platinum?”
'Name accepted.'
“Yes, we must find a way to bring the beast down before we can make a charge.” She said. “Else this battle will continue until our forces are utterly decimated. Do you have any ideas Chancellor Puddinghead?”
'Names taken after human items and life. Intriguing.'
“None that do not require a massive loss of ground and forces.” He said with a shrug. “Although we could send in our Dark Knight. She would be more than happy to fix this problem for us, but her sister would never allow it.”
'Lower Ranks, or possibly higher ranks... require more data.'
A trapdoor opened behind them the sounds of two pairs of hooves resonating out as two winged and horned ponies walked out. “You would be correct, chancellor. Luna shall not be permitted to fight further until she has fully recovered from her injury.” The white Alicorn stood tall and regal, though her eyes betrayed the fatigue her body felt.
'Luna, short for Lunar, also name of Human Moon. Possibility of human confrontation high.'
“I am no foal, sister.” She heatedly argued. “I can still fight. That sword barely nicked my flesh. It is well enough in my opinion to permit battle.” The white Alicorn glared back, coming face to face with her sister Luna.
“And the healer said your stitches are still too fresh to withstand the actions or battle!” The Alicorn tossed her mane out of her face. “Besides, I doubt even we could best that,” She pointed over the lip of the battlements to a hundred foot tall dragon. The behemoth laid waste to siege engines and squadrons of troops with swipes from its tail and the slightest wave of a clawed foot. The seven hundred foot long wingless dragon released a torrent of fire from its maw, a guttural laugh rumbling across the bodies and trenches from its throat. “I can only hope we can hold it off long enough to escape before they summon forth another!” Luna simply scoffed at her sister’s remark, only having glanced at the beast she had spent the last week plotting against.
One of the Prometheans stopped for a half a second. 'Creatures hold much care for their own, a rare trait amongst humans... data uploading to file.'
“It’s a dragon Celestia, not an immortal being,” Luna retorted. “It has a heart, a mind and a Liver; you take one out of the equation and the other two fall as well.” Celestia sighed, turning away from her battle born sister and to the matter at hand. Luna scowled after her, her horn glowing with a dark blue aura. A stone that would have tested the powers of the most trained unicorn lifted from the battlefield as she maneuvered it from afar. Ponies scattered as she moved the massive slab over the area, bringing the mountain to the dilema. “If it will not travel then I will bring the mountain to it!” she yelled through the strain as Celestia stared at the power of her younger sister. “I did not become a Demigod to be bested by a mortal beast!” she screamed as she dropped the stone from high above the dragon.
'Celestia... Celestial Body... more human names... Also appears that these creatures hold telekinesis as well as unknown energy within themselves... very interesting.'
“Is this the best you can do." The dragon yelled from across the battlefield.
'Energy growing within the one known as Luna... holds as much emotions as a human... possibly more. Require new orders, Warrior...'
'Acknowledged... engage hostile behemoth, do not aid in anything else until more data is acquired.'
'Acknowledged.'
The two Prometheans teleported in front of the massive Dragon, and turned off Camouflage, which stopped the dragons as the other three appeared, and the smaller one crawled over to them. This caused the dragons to stare dumbfounded at the strange metal things, before laughing as one spoke. "This is the best the ponies could come up with?! They look like metal disasters!"
'Hostility towards units noted... possibly more dangerous then recorded, open fire.'
The five aimed their arms at the large behemoth, and opened fire, causing the lights to flash from the guns, and the dragon screamed in agony before disintegrating. This made the other dragons roar in anger and throw spears at them, only for them to either bounce off or shatter upon impact.
'Clear out area.'
The Prometheans opened fire some more, killing even more dragons while the lucky ones flew away in fear. This caused the Prometheans to reappear in front of the five ponies, who quickly gasped upon seeing them and drew their weapons.
The commander then spoke. "Stand down or be treated as hostiles."
The ponies winced at the emotionless voice, and looked at each other, before slowly lowering their weapons as the one dubbed 'Celestia' spoke. "What are you?"
"Promethean Knights, servants of the Didact, also advanced AIs."
They were now confused as the one dubbed 'Luna' spoke. "What are AIs?"
"Artificial Intelligence, computer programs that learn." They were still confused. "Created Intelligence, something that was created on machines..."
They slowly nodded in understanding, before Celestia spoke. "Who is the Didact?"
"The Ur-Didact, full name Shadow-of-Sundered-Star, is a Forerunner Promethean who held an extremely high status in the Forerunner society as supreme commander of the entire Forerunner military. He wholeheartedly believed in the Mantle of Responsibility the Forerunners held to protect life, and initially opposed the Halo Array as a sin beyond measure. He was also the lover and husband of The Librarian."
The ponies were now even more confused, as Celestia spoke. "The Mantle? Forerunners? And who is this Librarian?"
The Commander stayed silent for a moment. "This unit Requires time to upload requested information... please stand by."
The ponies raised eyebrows as they watched the Commander stop moving, and simply stood there as it's uploading began. Five seconds later, and it went through everything that was Forerunner, the Mantle, and the Librarian. This led to it explaining the Forerunner-Human war, the Forerunner-Flood war, what the Flood was, who the Humans were, and almost everything else about the Prometheans and their species.
By now they all stood in the war room, and the other leaders with them have been listening intently as well as the two Demigods. And they were enthralled by what they were told, and even had their scribes record everything they learned. They were also worried as they stood among six very deadly machines that could literally kill all of them with ease. Yet they appeared friendly enough.
Luna then spoke. "Amazing... to think we could have possibly all been immortal beings, and all that changed when these 'Flood' attacked the Forerunners, leading to only the Alicorns being immortal."
"No records have been written in our programmings about Ponies, or Dragons... require data to be filled."
Celestia gave a small smile at that, and began to recite the history she knew of, and told of Discord, the war, the Zebras, the Dragons, the Griffons, and far more. The Prometheans recorded everything said, and stood on standby as they kept listening to more and more.
Upon them finishing, Warrior spoke. "Data received and archived. Processing data... new orders created. Aid the ponies in their war, and defeat the one dubbed 'Discord' by any means necessary. Processing... requesting new orders, Celestia..."
Celestia went wide eyed upon hearing this, and looked among the other ponies, who were just as shocked as she was upon hearing it say this. "What made you choose this?"
"Orders received from Slip-Space rupture in the forest, by the Librarian. She has given us orders to accept any command you give us, and to not fail."
Celestia couldn't help but smile at this, and nod. "I thank you, and the Librarian, for offering to aid us then, and we accept. Please follow me and I will show you where you may stay."
"Our units do not require what organics do, and simply shut down to await further orders. We will do the same here."
Celestia slowly nodded, and motioned them to follow, which they do.
