Every time the ambassadors from the United Non-Human Alliance were getting used to the craft they were in, they were transferred to another craft that would once again defy belief in its existence. First was the giant moving fortress with its massive bombards that made the ones constructed by the dwarves look like toys, they experienced the majesty of flight via a giant metal bird and the sight of what existed beneath the waves. They finished this magical journey by soaring through the air on a flying metal boat before reaching an island in the sky. During their travels they dined on fine cuisine and drank pure, clean water and a bubbly, fizzy, sugary drink called ‘So-Dah’.
According to the Automata that escorted them, the sky island was still under construction and that when finished, its size would dwarf the three larges cities on the planet combined. The weapons that adorned the sky island were nothing to scoff at, with turrets lifted straight from some of the vehicles they had been riding. The automata claimed that although they could only have a ‘handful’ of vessels, they could make them and then dismantle them for parts, thus allowing them to skirt the restrictions placed on vehicle production. Once dismantled, they no longer counted as active vehicles and thus their parts could be used while a new vessel was made to replace the one that had been ‘destroyed’.
As the ambassadors moved deeper and higher into the sky island the wealth and security on display increased greatly until they finally reached the main room where the master of the machines dwelled.
“A word of warning before you go in. Our Master will not be what you are expecting. Despite his appearances, he holds no ill will towards you or your people and desires peaceful relations with you, much the opposite of what he feels towards the lands he came from. He is under the assumption that you will be angered and aggressive towards him based on his nature and appearance and therefore has a security team in this conference room so as to non-lethally breaking up any fights. I hope you remember this as well; his home was one of the few that allowed humans and non-humans to live as equals and his home was razed to the ground by humans who killed everyone in his village. He does not hate humans but is inherently distrustful of them. So please, treat him as you would a member of your own race, not as what he is.”
With these words a chill ran down the backs of the Alliance Ambassadors. They now realized that the being they were going to meet was a Human, the very race that sought their destruction. They also knew they could not simply abandon their task, nor could they kill this Human without having their nations destroyed in the process. They could now only hope that the words spoken were at least half true and that this human didn’t demand terrible concessions from them in exchange for peaceful relations. With a force like the one they had seen, he could easily dominate them by pure destructive might.
The one-eyed automata opened the large redwood doors in front of them to reveal a circular table with many identical chairs around it. There were no differences in the chairs, they were all identical with no single one being fancier than the next. As they entered, and the doors shut behind them they noticed that in one of the chairs sat a small human child dressed in exquisite finery. He looked uncomfortable in his regal attire but was putting on a tough face regardless. He got out of his seat and made his way over to the stunned ambassadors before offering his hand to them.
If you find this story on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen. Please report the infringement.
“Greetings, most welcome guests! I do hope the trip here wasn’t too taxing upon you. I have tried to spare no expense regarding your treatment, but please let me know if you were dissatisfied with anything. Ah, but where are my manners? My name is Arkhan, just Arkhan. I bid you welcome to my nation, The Arcadian Commonwealth. Might I offer you some refreshments?”
Princess Leona Regulus was not amused.
“Oi, kid. You shouldn’t be here. Go find somewhere else to play, we’re meeting someone important and they have the gall not to be here when we got here!”
The child lowered his hand.
“Ah, Princess Leona Regulus. It is a pleasure to make your acquaintance. I must inform you that the individual you came here to meet is very much here right now.”
“Where? I don’t see anyone besides you!”
A smile flashed across the child’s face.
“But you see, the one who rules these lands and these Mobile Suit Golems is myself. Little under seven years old though I may be, I have forged this land into what it is in my short time here upon this world. I fully understand that I am not what you expected, but I assure you that I am indeed the ruler of the Arcadian Commonwealth. If you insist on meeting my father and mother, however, you may go to the razed ruins of my home village within the Kyrellian Kingdom to find their graves.”
Before Leona could say anything else, the dwarven Prince Myrd’yn Oathkeeper put up his hand to silence her.
“So, you made these Automatons?” He asked with palpable tension.
“Indeed, they are my creations. Born of my will and fanatically loyal to myself alone, they are the finest beings I could make.”
Myrd’yn crossed his arms and closed his eyes before asking what he considered a dangerous question.
“If we agree to become your allies, would you permit my people to dismantle and study your automata, even if only one?”
Arkhan shook his head.
“I am sorry, but I cannot allow that. To you they may be soulless machines with a synthesized personality, but to me they are my family and friends, my closest allies. While I would very much like to ally with you, if the conditions for such an alliance involved the vivisection of my family then I would most certainly have to refuse.”
The young (580-year-old) dwarf sighed.
“Ah well, it was a long shot anyways.”
Lady Evelyn was the next to speak.
“I can sense great magical power from you extending like the thinnest strings to the automata that we have seen. These are not made with a forge, but with magic are they not?”
“Indeed, my lady. That is correct. Even if you were to attempt to dismantle my Mobile Suit Golems, they would simply explode and then disappear into nothingness. But please, we have been talking in a most unequal position. Please, take a seat at the conference table. I once again ask if you require any food or drink. We have much to discus and hopefully we will forge a peace between us that shall last beyond time.”