The coronation of Bai Sha Roning was not merely a ceremony; it was a celestial alignment, a moment when the stars themselves seemed to pause in reverence. Tianshu Star, the vibrant heart of the Ares Empire, thrummed with anticipation. Its skies, streaked with auroras of violet and gold, reflected the fervor of a people united in celebration. The grand plaza before the Imperial Palace, paved with luminescent stone, shimmered under the weight of gathered crowds—nobles in resplendent silks, soldiers in polished armor, and commoners clutching holographic banners that flickered with Bai Sha's now-iconic portrait.
Inside the palace, Bai Sha stood before a towering mirror framed in star-forged silver. Her coronation robes, woven from threads of midnight blue and silver, cascaded like a nebula, their edges embroidered with the delicate silhouettes of Blackbirds in flight. The weight of the fabric was grounding, yet it seemed to hum with an energy that matched the pulse of her spirit. Little White Chirp, now perched on a velvet cushion, preened its silver-blue feathers, its tiny form a quiet anchor amid the storm of ceremony.
Cecil Roning entered, his presence as commanding as a supernova. His own robes, a deeper shade of imperial purple, bore the same Blackbird motif, though his were accented with gold that gleamed like molten sunlight. He carried the Crown Prince's scepter, a slender rod of obsidian inlaid with a single, radiant sapphire that pulsed faintly, as if alive.
"Ready?" he asked, his voice low but warm, a rare softness reserved for her.
Bai Sha met his gaze in the mirror. Her silver-gray hair, unbound save for a single braid, caught the light like a comet's tail. Her deep blue eyes, so like his, held a flicker of uncertainty—but only for a moment. She straightened, her posture a blend of military precision and regal grace.
"As ready as I'll ever be," she replied, a wry smile tugging at her lips. "Though I'd rather be piloting a mech than parading for a crowd."
Cecil chuckled, a sound like distant thunder. "You'll pilot empires soon enough. For now, let's give them a show."
He handed her the scepter. Its surface was cool, yet it seemed to warm under her touch, resonating with the latent power of her spirit. The sapphire's glow intensified, casting fleeting shadows of wings across the room. Little White Chirp chirped approvingly, its crest flaring.
The coronation hall awaited, its vaulted ceiling a mosaic of constellations, each star a crystal that refracted light into rainbows. The gathered dignitaries—Imperial nobles, Federation envoys, and representatives from allied systems—stood in reverent silence as Bai Sha entered, Cecil at her side. The Federation delegation, including Ya Ning, Zhou Jue, and Zhou Ying, occupied a place of honor near the front. Ya Ning's eyes widened at Bai Sha's approach, her whispered "Sha Sha!" barely audible over the swell of orchestral music.
The High Chancellor, a venerable figure in robes of white and gold, stepped forward. His voice, amplified by unseen technology, carried the weight of centuries. "By the grace of the stars and the will of the Ares Empire, we crown Bai Sha Roning, heir to the Blackbird's legacy, as Crown Prince."
Bai Sha knelt, her robes pooling like a midnight sea. The crown, a delicate circlet of star-forged metal, was placed upon her brow. Its central gem, a twin to the scepter's sapphire, flared with light, and for a moment, the hall seemed to hold its breath. Then, a ripple of energy pulsed outward—not from the crown, but from Bai Sha herself. Her Blackbird spirit, summoned unbidden, materialized above her, its silver-blue wings unfurling in a cascade of ethereal flame.
The crowd gasped. Even Cecil's eyes widened, though he masked it with a faint smirk. The Federation delegates exchanged glances, Zhou Jue muttering, "She's not holding back, is she?"
As Bai Sha rose, scepter in hand, the hall erupted in applause. The Blackbird soared, its cry a haunting melody that echoed through the chamber. Outside, the plaza roared, the sound carrying across Tianshu's skies. Holographic displays projected the moment to every corner of the Empire, and beyond, to Federation worlds watching in awe.
But amid the splendor, Bai Sha's thoughts drifted to the quiet moments—the kitchen on Blue Star, the sparring sessions with Jing Yi, the laughter shared with Ya Ning. This crown was not just a symbol of power; it was a promise to protect those memories, those bonds, forged in the fires of her past.
As the ceremony concluded, Cecil leaned close, his voice a conspiratorial whisper. "Not bad, kid. But don't let it go to your head."
Bai Sha grinned, twirling the scepter with a flourish. "Too late, Uncle. I'm already planning my first decree: mandatory mech races for all royals."
Cecil's laughter echoed as they stepped onto the balcony to face the cheering throng, the Blackbird circling above, a guardian of the dawn.