The Spaceship Colony
The Great Hall of Illumination at the front end of the spaceship shone with brilliant light. The columns of the aisle were made from a lustrous material that seemed impossibly strong, yet light to the touch. Gleaming and sparkling in the light, they caught the eye with their metallic gleam. Rich hues of blue, red, and silver dance across the columns as they shimmered and shifted in the light. The pillars in the aisle shone with blinding abundance, each one made of gleaming ultra-advanced super metal. The surface of the metal appeared to be covered in a fine layer of high-grade modified lenses that refracted capture and transmission of light, creating images projected onto the retinas of the viewer. The effect was a moving, shifting, ever-changing view of the vastness of space, of the stars and planets peacefully orbiting, of the rapidly growing and diminishing lines of ships, of the sun and the stars, of the expanse of the vastness of the universe.
As one walks down the aisle, one was presented with images of stars, vast expanses of planets, lines of ships, the sun, the moon, and other beautiful phenomena of nature, the magnificent sights of the eternal universe. The ceiling of the hall was made of a highly flexible and durable material that was also very light, which allowed the hall to expand and contract to allow for the passage of large ships, as well as for the expansion, contraction and restriction of areas for various purposes.
A faint murmur of voices could be heard at the front of the hall, a buzz of excitement in the air. One could hear the gentle rustle of fabric as the gleaming curtains shifted in response to the breeze. The stage was bathed in a silvery glow as the setting sun casts its rays across the shimmering, deep blue backdrop. The colors contrasted beautifully, creating a sense of anticipation and excitement while waiting for what comes next.
Walking down the aisle of the great hall were two women, the two queens of the royal family, the two wives of the king and their children. The young prince Apollo felt the warmth of his mother’s hand in his as he walked through the metallic archway, surrounded by his sisters. They were the first of the children, those born of the king’s first wife. As the crystallizing photon lights reflected on the silver floors and platinum walls, he remembered seeing this scene from afar so many times before. The rhythm of footsteps was just like it always was: dainty and confident on the queen mother’s side.
King Alkor stood at the front of the hall, his expression grave. The hairs of his beard waved gently in the slight breeze, and the fabric of his velvety robes swayed as he paced before the crowd of his people of House Eternal Life. He took a deep breath and lifted up his arm outstretched for silence. The crowd immediately hushed, the movement of fabrics and rustle of footsteps ceasing as everyone fell silent and waited to hear his decree.
“With great pleasure I present to you, Prince Apollo!” he announced, and the hall erupted in cheers and applause. The prince smiled and waved to the crowd, standing tall and proud next to his sisters. The boys and girls of the colony watched as Apollo walked down the aisle, his beautiful gowns and regal bearing leaving him in awe.
As the young prince neared the stage, he felt the weight of history on his shoulders. He was the firstborn son of the king, the heir to the throne, the future leader of the colony. He was the hope of the people, the symbol of their past, present, and future. He was the living embodiment of their dreams and aspirations, their hopes and their fears.
The prince walked confidently up the steps of the stage, looking out at the crowd with a steady gaze. Standing in front of his father, he held his head high, his shoulders straight and strong. He was the image of health and vitality, just like his mother and sisters. He had never struggled with illness or allergies. You could see the vigor of his being in all of his movements. His eyes sparkled with intelligence and focus, while his jaw was clenched in determination.
The crowd watched him in silence, their eyes full of pride and admiration for the next leader of their colony. Prince Apollo said nothing, simply gazed out at his people, and waited for his father to speak.
“My son,” the king began, his voice echoing throughout the great hall, “As you stand before me and your people, I see the future of our colony, the future of our people. You will take up the mantle of leadership and lead us into a new age of prosperity and growth. You will guide us through this time of change and uncertainty, and you will be the foundation upon which we build our future. I am confident that you will be a great leader, that you will serve your people well, and that you will be a shining example of all that is good and right in this universe.” The king reaches forward and gently places the precious golden crown on his son's head. The new king stands strong and proud, his face etched with determination and purpose, as the ritual transforms the young man into the new leader and king.
The raucous crowd filled the great hall and they cheered, their cries reverberating off the vaulted ceiling. They had never seen such splendor, such grandeur, and they stood in awe at the spectacle. Their cheers were all for their new king. Apollo smiled and bowed his head in respect to his father, the great leader and starlight of the colony. He knew that he had a great responsibility on his shoulders, one that he was determined to fulfill. He would be a great leader. He would lead them into a new age, for their supremacy and for their future. As the procession made its way back down the aisle, the people were on their feet. The walls of the hall were filled with the light of their smiles and the warmth of their applause. Apollo basked in the adoration of his people, the pride and the respect in their eyes. He smiled, his eyes shining like the stars, and he knew that he could do anything. He was the future.
The grand hall slowly emptied as the ritual came to an end, and everyone made their way outside onto the terrace which had been encased in transparent aluminum and was illuminated by the bright sunbeams. The prince stood on the stage, surrounded by his family, as the crowd slowly dispersed. He looked out at the colony, at the ships and buildings, at the people and their children, at the shining and bright sun and at the perfectly blue earth. He breathed in the fresh air of their home, filling his lungs with the fragrant scent of the colony.
His mother Apollonia slowly turned around and said into his ear: “Our people are behind you, my son. You will lead them to glory and greatness.”
"I will mother," he said.
“We are all so proud of you, son. I will always be here to support and help you, my child, and I have every confidence in your abilities and talents. You will be the greatest king we have ever had, Apollo. Remember my son, that we are behind you. You will lead us to the future, our future,” she added proudly.
Apollo smiled, gratitude and pride filling his heart, and he raised his eyes to the sky. He could barely see the tiny distant figure of his father walking away, and he knew that their future was in his hands. The new king looked out at the beautiful ground surrounding him. It was their property, their family's ground. Its long power struggle against House Quantum Dawn was finally over and a new day had begun for the colony. His father, had done what he had always dreamed that he would do: he had rid the colony of its enemies and established peace. Apollo knew that his father would not be with him to help guide and direct their people. He knew that he would have to rise to the challenge of leading their great people with all the power that he could muster. All the power of his great shoulders, arms, and hands; all the power of his passion and conviction; and all the power of his deep, steadfast loyalty. He knew that he and House Eternal Life would have to work together to form the ideal future that they envisioned: a golden age of greatness, prosperity, and of cultivating their traditions. However, you would still have to watch out for Quantum Dawn's house. They may soon regain their full strength and revolt once again against the large and powerful family and House of Eternal Life.