Disclaimer: I do not own My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic or Warhammer 40000.Prologue
Deep in the far reaches of space, an invisible, spherical barrier stood guard, surrounding a region of space over a light-year in diameter. Forged from the energies of the Immaterium itself, the barrier separated the calm psychic space inside from the hellish Warp outside. Its outermost layer rotated at superluminal speeds, generating and sustaining a sizable Warp storm around itself, both concealing its presence and dissuading any starfaring beings from approaching. It had remained intact for over ten thousand years now.
But nothing lasts forever. The passage of time and lack of maintenance had taken its toll on the construct's integrity, and the psychic energy contained inside had gradually built up to the point that it now strained the barrier to the breaking point.
On the surface of the one inhabited planet within the protected sphere, a powerful burst of love erupted. The purely psychic component of the resulting shockwave cascaded through the Immaterium many times faster than the speed of light. Its force had greatly diminished by the time it struck the inner surface of the barrier, but that was all it took. The sphere began to ripple and vibrate with increasing intensity, spelling its imminent failure.
Several hours later, the barrier shattered.
The mass of psychic energy contained within exploded outward like water from a burst dam, rapidly sweeping away the Warp storm that had been raging around it and expanding to over a dozen times its original diameter. The dark violet and blood red cyclone of the Warp storm was quickly displaced by a smaller, softly glowing, multi-colored pseudo-nebula. Finally, the psychic light of the two godlike entities living on the inhabited world burst forth in all directions, soon becoming visible to every Navigator within a ten thousand light-year radius, effectively creating a second Astronomican.
In that singular moment, the future of Equestria changed forever.
Chapter 1 – Revelations
Canterlot, Equestria
Friday, 9:37 PM
Princess Celestia walked into her personal chambers, sighing as she telekinetically closed the doors behind her. It had been a long day, and she needed a warm cup of tea to soothe her nerves. The white alicorn walked to the small kitchen area of her room, reflecting on the day's events as she began preparing her tea. Although Queen Chrysalis had been stopped and Princess Cadence, her niece, and Shining Armor, Twilight Sparkle's brother and Captain of the Royal Guard, were now happily married, the fact that the changeling had so easily slipped her notice was greatly disturbing. And the fact that her Twilight, her star pupil, had caught onto the doppelganger's off behavior filled her with both pride for her student and shame for rebuking her when she called Chrysalis out, although Twilight hadn't exactly responded to the situation in the most rational manner, even if she was right. Celestia sighed. “Perhaps my age is finally getting to me,” she thought to herself.
But she knew that beating herself up over the issue wouldn't help anything, so she simply resolved to be more vigilant in the future. “It probably wouldn't hurt to start practicing my combat magic again as well,” she mentally added. After her tea was finished, she walked to her small wooden table and took a seat on a nice, soft pillow, bringing her tea set with her. She poured the steaming beverage into her cup, smiling as the warm aroma filled the air around her. “Perfect,” she thought contently as she levitated the cup to her lips.
The psychic shockwaves struck Celestia without warning. Caught completely off guard, she cried out sharply, dropping her teacup and gripping the sides of her head with her forehooves in blinding pain as her venerable mind was buffeted from all directions. Overcoming the initial shock a couple seconds later, she focused her magic and erected a psychic bubble shield, blocking out the brunt of the waves. Still, her magical senses were so acute and the reverberations were so intense that she could feel them pulsing all around her. After less than half a minute, the waves finally subsided.
Meanwhile, within one of the palace lounges, the six Element Bearers plus Spike were having a lively chat about the day's events.
“So then, the fake Cadence cast a spell to imprison me in the caves beneath Canterlot, where she also imprisoned the real Cadence” Twilight Sparkle recounted. “I had never even heard of caverns like that under the city until then. They were filled with crystal and gem formations.”
Spike perked up at that last part. “Ohhh man, that sounds delicious,” he replied, positively salivating at the thought of such a place, as gemstones were a staple of his diet as a dragon.
“Ugh, that sounds positively dreadful, being stuck in a dark, dank cave like that!” Rarity replied in her usual dramatic tone.
“Well the caves themselves are quite fascinating,” Twilight replied. “Still, it wasn't a fun experience at the time, and we had a hard time finding our way out.”
“Heh, if I had been there with you, I would have found a way to bust out of there in no time!” Rainbow Dash boasted.
Applejack rolled her eyes. “Not to burst your bubble Dash, but if the smartest unicorn we know had trouble findin' her way out, I'm pretty sure you would have had a hard time of it too,” she drawled in reply.
Rainbow Dash scoffed. “Way to put a pegasus down, AJ...still, I guess you have a point,” she conceded grudgingly.
“Ooh! Ooh! Spelunking sounds really fun! We should totally go visit those caves later!” Pinkie Pie bubbled excitedly.
“Um...well, I'm just glad that you made it out okay,” Fluttershy spoke softly.
Twilight chuckled. “Thanks, Fluttershy. And that sounds like a great idea, Pinkie Pie. To think that such a place was hidden under the city this whole time is just incredible! The mineral formations inside seemed highly attuned to magic as well. I'd love to go back and collect some samples for resear-”
Twilight was suddenly cut off as the psychic waves struck her, yelping in surprise and pain as she felt the sudden onset of a pronounced headache, particularly around her horn. She shut her eyes tightly and groaned, gripping her forehead with her front hooves. She quickly realized that it wasn't a regular headache; it was being triggered by some kind of massive magical disturbance. Her suspicions were confirmed when she opened her eyes and saw Rarity gripping her head and moaning in pain as well.
“What in Celestia's name-” Twilight began to say when Pinkie Pie squealed, drawing her attention. Pinkie's entire body was vibrating as fast as a humming bird's wings. It lasted for a whole three seconds.
“HOLY GUACAMOLE!!” Pinkie exclaimed. “Something BIG just happened! Something way, WAY doozier than the last doozy!”
Applejack then spoke up. “If I didn't know better, I'd say that some of that Pinkie Sense has rubbed off on me, 'cause I got a wicked case of the heebee-jeebees right now,” she said as she fidgeted uncomfortably, looking around nervously in a futile attempt to locate the source of her anxiety.
“Y-yeah, me too,” Rainbow Dash admitted reluctantly, her body twitching and her wings jerking open and closed in a uneven fashion. Fluttershy simply buried her face in a pillow, covering her head with her forehooves as her entire body shivered uncontrollably. Even Spike was affected. He curled up close to Twilight for security while clutching his forehead, experiencing a mild headache as well as a bout of uneasiness.
Twilight quickly erected her a magic bubble shield in response, encompassing everyone in the room. Their symptoms stopped almost instantly, and Twilight dropped the barrier once she felt the psychic pressure on it subside.
“Is everypony okay?” Twilight asked worriedly. They all nodded affirmatively, although they appeared pretty shaken. Even Pinkie Pie seemed more concerned than usual.
“Oh, that was simply awful!” Rarity commented with genuine distress in her voice.
“What WAS that anyway?” Rainbow Dash asked.
Twilight shook her head. “I'm not sure, but Pinkie Pie is right. Whatever happened, it was definitely something big.” It then occurred to her that whatever had affected them had almost certainly affected everypony else, possibly even Princess Celestia and Princess Luna. “There's a chance that somepony might have been hurt by what we just felt,” Twilight followed up. “I think we should go check on the others in the palace, just in case.”
The other five ponies nodded in agreement, with Spike electing to stick with Twilight like usual. They took a moment to discuss where each of them would go before they all left the lounge and scattered in different directions.
Back in Celestia's chambers, the white alicorn gasped heavily, her mind racing as she tried to process what had just transpired. In all her years, she had never felt a disturbance of such magnitude. She then felt someone trying to establish a telepathic link with her. It was her sister, Luna. Celestia opened her mind to the link, allowing it to connect.
“Sister! Art thou alright?! Did you feel it too?!” Luna asked worriedly.
Celestia smiled. “Don't worry Luna, I'm okay,” she replied reassuringly. “And yes, I felt it very clearly. Is everyone else alright?” she asked.
“Thank goodness,” Luna mentally breathed in relief. “As for the everyone else, I am not sure. I wanted to check on you first," she replied.
“I appreciate your concern, dear sister, but the safety of our subjects takes first priority," Celestia replied evenly. "Go see to the others in the palace and provide aid if needed. I'll try and figure out what happened in the meantime.”
“Understood,” Luna replied deferentially before closing the link.
Celestia was about to begin searching for the source of the disturbance when she suddenly remembered her niece, Princess Cadence. As an alicorn like herself, she was far more sensitive to psychic energy than even the most powerful unicorn. She was also younger and less experienced in the use of magic than both herself and Luna, so she wouldn't have been able to defend herself from the disturbance as effectively. Even though Shining Armor was with her, along with some of her best guards, Celestia decided to play it safe, focusing on Cadence's psychic signature and establishing a telepathic link with her.
“Cadence, are you alright?” she asked. There was no reply. A cold pit of dread began to set in Celestia's stomach.
She was about to try calling out to her again when Cadence finally responded several seconds later. “Aunt Tia,” she replied somewhat weakly. “Don't worry, I'm okay. I just suddenly had this horrible, splitting headache. Shining Armor had one as well. He said that it was caused by magic, and he put up a shield to protect us and the guards. It seems to be over now though. What happened anyway? Is everypony else alright?”
Celestia sighed in relief, smiling at the mention of Shining Armor's actions. Cadence couldn't have picked a better mate. “I don't know yet, but I'm going to try and find out,” Celestia replied. “I'll make sure to fill you in on what I learn. Until then, just carry on like usual. Also, please thank Shining Armor for me.”
“Alright Aunt Tia, I will. Thank you so much for checking on us,” Cadence replied gratefully before closing the link.
Now calm in the knowledge that her niece was safe, Celestia expanded her magical sense, finely honed after over a millennium of practice, attempting to identify the cause of the disturbance. It was proving to be a difficult task however, as it seemed to have converged on her from everywhere at once. Additionally, a radiant point of psychic light had now made itself visible in the sky. She couldn't feel the presence of any being capable of generating such a potent signature nearby. It must have been both very far away and very powerful, likely even more powerful than herself.
The sight made Celestia remember something from many centuries ago. She had once attempted to project her senses as far away from Equestria as possible, just to see what else was out there. At the time she wasn't capable of sensing all around herself simultaneously farther than the solar system, so she instead projected in a single direction, extending her range immensely. But each time she tried, an invisible wall kept blocking her from perceiving any further. Her range was capped at around half a light-year away in every direction. She knew that the barrier was magical in nature, but she couldn't figure out anything else about it. She had eventually decided to simply drop the issue, since ponykind wasn't going into space anytime soon anyway, much less past their own solar system, and there were more important matters to attend to at the time.
Celestia now wondered if this massive disturbance had something to do with the barrier. She decided test her hypothesis, closing her eyes and willing her magical senses to expand in the direction of the new psychic beacon. Her magic power and her degree of control over it had grown with age, and she could now project her senses outward in a widened cone rather than a single point while still retaining incredible range. Her projection approached the point where it would be blocked off...and passed through without resistance, to Celestia's shock. She turned her projection in several different directions, but her 'vision' remained unhindered. The barrier had disappeared entirely.
“So that's what caused it,” Celestia thought. The princess was both intrigued and deeply concerned about this development. Neither she nor her sister knew anything about who or what made the barrier, what its purpose was, how long it had existed, or what lay beyond it besides stars and dust. But now that it was gone, she felt she had the opportunity to find out. “Nothing ventured, nothing gained,” she told herself as she began to expand her senses even further, narrowing the scope of her vision to increase its range. She projected further and further, reaching across several light-years of space until she finally reached the edge of Equestria's Warp influence.
What Celestia felt next would be etched in her mind for the rest of her life.
Everything became a howling, writhing maelstrom of pure emotion, almost all of which was negative in the extreme. Unlike the psychic overpressure which she felt earlier, this phenomenon was far more insidious, invading her psyche with feelings of hate, rage, greed, lust, terror, and despair all at the same time. She could hear the tortured screams of lost souls and the vile laughter of the malicious entities which fed upon them. She could feel herself being smothered by their all-consuming hunger. Neither the tyranny of Nightmare Moon nor the callous unpredictability of Discord could compare with the sheer evil that saturated this place. She felt the chaos encroach upon her mind like a predator, ready to devour her whole.
Celestia finally snapped back to reality. She was hyperventilating, her legs trembling weakly and her pristine white coat now matted with cold sweat. She found herself unable to continue standing, falling down on her haunches as she tried to steady her breathing. Not even confronting and banishing her errant sister had shaken her this badly. To think that such nightmarish things existed just outside the barrier...
It finally clicked. That must have been the barrier's purpose: to protect Equestria against the ravening horrors surrounding it.
And now it was gone. There was nothing standing between their world and the nightmares beyond...
“No,” Celestia thought to herself, bringing her fear back under control. There was herself and her sister Luna, as well as the Elements of Harmony and their Bearers. She would not let herself succumb to despair. She was a Princess of Equestria, and she would defend this world and its inhabitants with her life if necessary. Still, it was clear that the space far beyond the solar system posed a very real threat, one that they needed to be prepared for. She spent the next few minutes cleaning herself and the table up before establishing a telepathic link with Luna.
Luna galloped through the palace corridors, checking on various ponies as she went. Everyone seemed to be okay, if a little rattled, and was now keeping an eye out for the Element Bearers as well. As she rounded the next corner, as if on cue, Twilight Sparkle appeared in her field of vision along with her young dragon companion.
“Twilight!” Luna called out as she approached the lavender unicorn at a brisk pace. “Art thou unharmed?”
Twilight immediately turned toward Luna, surprised only for a moment before bowing in respect. “I'm okay, Princess Luna, and so are my friends,” she confirmed. “We split up to check on everypony else. Do you have any idea what's happened?”
Luna shook her head. “I am afraid not. Celestia said she would try to find out. She sent me to make sure the palace occupants were safe. Thankfully this seems to be so, although everypony I have encountered has reported suffering headaches, anxiety and other minor maladies.”
Twilight nodded. “That's exactly what happened with us and everypony we've checked on as well. I'm beginning to wonder if all of Equestria was affected. What should we do now?”
Luna was about to respond when she felt Celestia's telepathic link connect. She gestured for Twilight to wait a moment before closing her eyes and concentrating.
“I am here, sister,” Luna replied.
“Luna, I need you to find the six Element Bearers and bring them to my personal chambers as soon as possible. I've just learned something that all of you need to hear,” Celestia replied solemnly.
Luna paused for a moment to consider the gravity of her sister's tone before replying. “Understood. I shall escort them to you immediately.” Luna then turned her gaze to Twilight again. “I have just spoken with my sister via telepathy. She wants me to bring you and the other Element Bearers to meet her right away. We must make haste and find the rest of your friends.”
Twilight nodded. “We talked about where each of us would go before splitting up. I'll lead you to them.” She then galloped off with Spike on her back and Luna in tow.
Ten minutes later, Princess Luna, Spike and the six Element Bearers strode into Princess Celestia's personal chambers. The white alicorn was sitting down at her table, and had prepared glasses of water for everyone. “Thank you all for coming on such short notice,” she greeted with a smile. “Please have a seat.” Everyone promptly sat down around the table. Celestia then turned to her sister. “Before we begin, how are the others in the palace doing?” she asked.
“Everypony seems to be okay,” Luna replied. “Although all of them have reported experiencing a general malaise. The unicorns were apparently hit the hardest; they all suffered moderate to severe headaches, but they are otherwise unharmed. We are getting similar reports from all over Canterlot as we speak.”
Celestia nodded, thankful that the disturbance hadn't caused any major harm, at least as far as she knew. Still, her relief was somewhat overshadowed by the dread of what she had to say next. “That's good to hear, but I'm afraid that I have more serious news. I've figured out the cause of the disturbance which affected all of us.” She took a moment to sip some water and gather her thoughts, everyone around her looking at her expectingly. She then turned to Luna again. “Do you remember huge psychic barrier which surrounds this entire solar system?” she asked.
Luna's eyes widened in surprise as the memories came back to her. “I do,” she replied.
Twilight raised her hoof. “Excuse me Princess, a psychic barrier? Around the whole solar system?” she asked, having no knowledge of what Celestia just mentioned.
Celestia nodded. “Indeed. A few centuries before the rise of Nighmare Moon, I and Luna discovered that there was a magic barrier over a light-year in diameter surrounding our entire solar system. It only blocked psychic energy, since comets and asteroids routinely passed through it during their orbits. We had no idea who made it or what it's purpose was. It's quite possible, even likely, that the barrier has existed longer than we have. No one else knew of its existence because only alicorns have the capability to project their magical senses to such extreme ranges. We never told anyone else because there was nothing we could do about it, and we didn't think it was worth worrying everypony over.”
Everyone save for Luna was visibly amazed by this new information. “Ah, Princess?” Applejack spoke up. “Are you saying that this barrier thing has somethin' to do with what happened to everypony just now?”
Celestia smiled. “Very perceptive, Applejack. I believe that this is indeed the case, which brings me to my next point.” She then paused for a moment to collect her thoughts before continuing. “The barrier is gone. I believe its disappearance must have created the magic 'pressure waves' that we experienced.”
Everyone stared at Celestia in shock. “But...but how?!” Luna asked in disbelief. “What could have caused such a massive magical construct to simply disappear?!”
Celestia shook her head. “I'm at as much of a loss as you are, sister, but we have a far more pressing problem now. After confirming the disappearance of the barrier, I gazed into the psychic space beyond where the barrier used to be...and it's teeming with evil and suffering. The terrors of Nightmare Moon, Discord, and Queen Chrysalis pale in comparison to the things I sensed out there. Even the psychic space itself was hostile; it attacked my mind as soon as I gazed into it. It took all my willpower just to stay sane. Knowing what I know now, I believe that the barrier was created to protect us from the chaos beyond our solar system.”
The others listened closely as Celestia recalled what she had seen and felt, varied expression of horror and disbelief etched on their faces nearly the whole way through.
“Thats...that's just horrible!” Twilight commented with dread in her voice. “How can we possibly protect ourselves against something like that?”
Celestia smiled warmly. “Do not despair, my faithful student. I can sense that the psychic space within and around our solar system is calm and filled with positive emotions. I believe that the barrier's disappearance has allowed Equestria's psychic influence to expand substantially, since I didn't encounter the chaotic psychic space for several light-years from where the barrier originally stood. I suspect that this positive psychic influence is keeping the chaos outside from encroaching on our world.”
Twilight and the others visibly sighed in relief at this. It seemed that they were not in any immediate danger.
“However,” Celestia added, catching their attention. “There is still the fact that the barrier which was protecting our world is now gone, meaning that the entities I sensed within the chaotic space can now see us, just as we can now see them. These entities felt fundamentally similar to Nightmare Moon and Discord, who were both magical, sentient embodiments of negative emotion. Even though our space is strongly aligned with good emotions, we have to assume that there are negative entities out of capable of similar feats. Luckily, their nature means that they should also be vulnerable to the power of the Elements of Harmony.”
Celestia paused, panning a gaze across each of the Element Bearers. “I will do the best I can to defend Equestria against this threat, but I do not know if I will be able to handle the task all on my own, which means that each of you will need to be ready in the event of an incursion by these entities. Be forewarned: the foes you may face next are likely to be far more vicious than anything you've encountered thus far. Sadly, you may very well be confronted by the sight of death on their account...or even worse.”
The Bearers felt their stomachs twist and their blood run cold. The very thought of their fellow ponies, possibly even their friends and family, being badly hurt or killed was utterly terrifying. Fluttershy was hit especially hard, to the point that she was on the verge of tears. Luna took it upon herself to comfort the poor creature, gently pulling the tender-hearted mare into a sideways hug and draping a wing over her shivering form.
Celestia gave them all a look of empathy before speaking again. “It truly pains me to evoke such fear in your hearts, but to hide the truth away from you, my most loyal and cherished subjects, would be to dishonor the bond of trust I share with you all. I tell you these things not to scare you, but so that you may be fully prepared in the event of a confrontation with these entities. Because of the scope and extreme nature of this threat, I believe that each of you should begin undergoing combat training suited to your individual capabilities.” She then turned to Luna. “To that end, starting tomorrow, I would like you to take four hours off every weekend day to train them for the next three months.”
The Bearers exchanged concerned looks with each other at the mention of combat training, and Luna blanched at the request. “Sister, art thou sure that I am the right pony for such a task? It has been so long since I have personally trained anypony...”
Celestia smiled. “Your mastery of magic is second only to mine, and you have centuries of knowledge and experience to draw from. If there's anyone who is qualified to teach them how to fight, it's you.” She then turned to the Bearers. “I realize that this is a heavy burden to place on your shoulders, especially since none of you are members of the military or the Royal Guard, but undergoing this training would go a long way toward helping ensure the safety of our people. Will you do this for me?” she asked.
At first there was silence as the six ponies contemplated the request. It didn't take more than a few seconds for one of them to respond.
“Well I'm not just going to sit around while freaky psychic aliens invade and hurt our friends and family. Count me in!” Rainbow Dash announced confidently.
Applejack grinned. “Same here. If this training will really help us protect our kin then sign me up!”
Twilight Sparkle smiled and nodded in agreement. “I could never refuse a request from my teacher and Princess on a matter as important as this. I'm in.”
Rarity huffed dramatically. “Honestly, all of this sounds so dreadful...but I've fought alongside you all before, and I wouldn't hesitate to do it again. Count me in as well,” she finished with a smile.
“Sounds like fun! Let's do it!” Pinkie Pie cheered, now back to her usual bubbly personality.
All eyes then turned to Fluttershy. The pink-haired pegasus hesitated for a few seconds before speaking. “Um...well, I really don't like fighting...but the thought of letting other ponies get hurt or killed is even worse...so...I'll do it,” she finally accepted. Everyone smiled warmly at the mild-mannered mare's courage.
“What about me?” Spike spoke up. “I bet I could help too! I am a dragon after all,” he proclaimed, sticking a thumb to his chest pridefully.
Twilight gave the young dragon a stern look. “Spike, this is serious! You may be a dragon, but you're still a bab-” the unicorn caught herself mid-sentence, noticing Spike's vexed expression. She knew that Spike was maturing, and that he didn't like being called a baby, even if he technically was one by dragon standards. She sighed. “Sorry, a young dragon. Look, I know you want to help, but I can't allow you to risk getting yourself hurt by fighting with us. Don't you remember what happened during the Great Dragon Migration? If you can't hold your own against juvenile dragons in simple contests, how can you expect to fight for real against something like Nightmare Moon, or even worse?”
Spike wanted to protest, but he found that Twilight's words were true, even though he didn't want to admit it. “Alright, alright, I get it,” he relented dejectedly.
It was then that Luna decided to interject. “Thou art more important than you realize, young Spike. Though you are not capable of joining the Element Bearers on the field of battle, your scroll teleportation magic would be a vital asset in the event that your companions need to reach Celestia or myself. In this way, you can support your companions without putting yourself in danger. I'm sure I can help you find other ways of helping them as well.”
Spike visibly brightened up at this. “Thanks Princess Luna, I really appreciate it.”
Celestia smiled at the group. “I'm so proud of you all for your willingness to take on this task. You have my gratitude, and I will make sure that you are all properly compensated for your service. One more thing before you leave though: Please do not tell anyone else about what I have told you. I don't intend to keep it a secret forever, but at the same time, I do not wish to incite panic among the general public. Promise to keep quiet about it for now?”
The Bearers then grinned at each other for couple seconds before turning back to Celestia. “Cross my heart and hope to fly, stick a cupcake in my eye!” they chanted simultaneously, crossing their hearts, flapping their forelegs, and then covering their left eyes with their left forehooves.
Celestia giggled at the display. “Very good. Now all of you go and get some sleep. You have a big day tomorrow.”
The six mares plus Spike bowed respectfully to Celestia and Luna before departing, immediately breaking into discussion about everything that they had learned. Luna then turned to her sister with a concerned look.
“Are you sure about this?” Luna asked.
Celestia sighed. “I don't like this anymore than you do, sister, but I don't think we have a choice. The enemy we face is vast, powerful, and evil in the extreme. We can't afford to leave anything to chance.”
Luna contemplated her sister's answer for a few moments before replying. “...I understand. I'll do my best to make sure they are prepared for whatever lies ahead.”
Celestia smiled and nuzzled her younger sibling. “I know you will. I believe in you, Luna.”
Meanwhile, deep in the Immaterium, the sudden appearance of Equestria's positive warp energy had drawn the attention of the Gods of Chaos, distracting them from their never-ending battle for dominance against each other. They all agreed to a short truce and sent their avatars to convene in neutral Warp space where they observed as the planet's influence blossomed outward, calming the psychic space around it.
“THIS IS UNACCEPTABLE!!” Khorne roared furiously. “How could something like this have escaped our notice?!”
“So that's what those Harmony weaklings were up to,” Tzeentch crooned gleefuly, clearly entertained by this new development. “Their tenacity never ceases to impress me.”
Khorne shot Tzeentch a withering glare. “There has not been a threat to our influence this powerful in over ten thousand years!! WE MUST DESTROY THEM AT ONCE!!”
“Oh please! You're such a brute, Khorne!” Slaanesh scoffed. “We haven't had anyone this good to play with in such a long time...” the hermaphroditic god licked his/her lips sultrily. “It will be so much fun to watch as we break their pitiful, naïve minds.”
“They seem like such nice folks!” Nurgle drawled gregariously. “We should definitely come on down and pay 'em of a visit! I have some gifts that I'd just know they'll love!”
Tzeentch grinned deviously. “I agree with the others, Khorne. We should savor this occasion and give them a small taste of our power to start with. Besides, they clearly aren't anywhere close to capable of space travel. They are no threat to us in the long run.”
Khorne sneered angrily. “And what of the Corpse-Emperor's Imperium?! Do you really believe that they won't try to utilize this new race as a weapon against us?!”
“You really are dense, aren't you?” Tzeentch replied dryly. “This race's power comes from their positive emotions, which in case you haven't noticed, is something Mankind as a whole has in VERY short supply. They couldn't use this power even if they wanted to because the very concept of Harmony is anathema to them. Their unwillingness to make use of the one power that can truly oppose us will make their downfall all the more delicious in the end.”
Khorne, seeing the truth in his words, relented grudgingly. “You had better be right, or the threat of Harmony will be the least of your problems,” the Blood God warned.
Tzeentch chuckled at this. He was confident that his prediction would be correct.
“...Although,” he pondered privately. “There is a possibility, however remote, that Man could learn to accept Harmony once more...now that would be worth watching.”
With their deliberations concluded, the Chaos Gods relayed orders to their chosen subordinates in real space before recalling their avatars. They then resumed their bitter rivalry, just as they had after dealing with the Emperor of Mankind at the conclusion of the Horus Heresy. The Great Game would forever remain their ultimate imperative.
Craftworld Biel-Tan, Segmentum Tempestus
Farseer Macha meditated silently in her personal quarters, suspended in a trance-like state as she opened her mind to the Warp, peering through its myriad and seemingly random currents and eddies, attempting to divine the shape of things to come.
As she continued sifting through the various potential futures presented to her, something unexpected happened. A dim but visible point of psychic light, not unlike that of the humans' Astronomican, suddenly made itself visible, located on the other side of the galaxy. In addition, the complex pattern of possible future events laid out before her shifted dramatically. A vision began to take form in her mind; a new power has revealed itself, a power which could challenge the forces of Chaos. The Imperium of Man will seek this power, which will precipitate a great conflict within their ranks...and the Blood Ravens chapter will play a pivotal role in determining its outcome. On top of all this, the future of the entire Eldar race, and possibly the galaxy at large, will be altered dramatically by these events. And for the first time in centuries, for a single fleeting moment, Macha saw the possibility of genuine change for the better.
The vision ended almost as quickly as it came. Macha then withdrew her mind from the Warp and opened her eyes. She felt her heart beating faster than usual. She could not afford to delay action, not on a prediction with implications of this magnitude.
Without delay, the Farseer rose up from the floor, donned her battle garb, retrieved her singing spear, and set out to assemble a scout force. She briefly wondered how Gabriel of the Hidden Heart was faring before shaking the thought from her mind. There would be time for reminiscing later.
Chapter 2 - Marching Orders
Chapter 2 – Marching Orders
Inquisitorial Black Ship Executor, Korianis Sector, Segmentum Ultima
Currently en route to sector Inquisitorial headquarters
060.M42, 1 minute before barrier collapse
Inquisitor Tiberius Heth of the Ordo Xenos sported an unsettling ghost of a smile as he finished composing an after action report of another successful xeno cleansing on the data console of his bridge command station. His last mission had been a simple but gratifying one. Imperial scout ships had reported the presence of Exodite Eldar on a fertile and resource-rich world selected for colonization. In response, Heth requisitioned several Imperial Guard regiments to exterminate them. He participated in the cleansing personally, leading a company of his own Inquisitorial Storm Troopers as they raided the Exodites' settlements. It didn't matter whether they were soldiers, civilians, men, women, old, or young. They slaughtered them all without distinction.
And he enjoyed every moment of it. Of all the foul xenos in the cosmos, Heth despised the Eldar the most. Their very physical forms were a vile mockery of Humanity's perfect image. Ridding the galaxy of their ilk was a great service to both the Emperor and to Humanity, one which he would gladly perform time and time again until the day he died, although he hoped that he would live to see them wiped out completely.
Heth was about to send the finished report to the ship's Astropath for transfer to the local Inquisitorial Headquarters when the ship's Navigator suddenly jerked upright, a shocked expression on his face. He was a tall, thin man with abnormally elongated fingers and a third, glowing eye on his forehead, and wore the traditional hooded cloak and garb of his station.
“What is it?” Heth asked sternly. Although not nearly as strong as his hatred for aliens, he harbored a disgust for mutants as well, including Psykers, and by extension, Navigators, despite their necessity. Navigators in particular reminded too much of the Eldar, as their mutations often caused them to become tall and wiry in stature. He mostly kept it to himself however. They may have been perversions of the ideal form of Humanity, but they were still vital and loyal servants of the Imperium, and he would not pass judgement on them unless they gave him a reason to do so.
“I-Inquisitor Heth, I...I'm not sure you would believe what I am seeing right now,” the Navigator replied nervously. He looked like he had seen a ghost, which, considering the nature of his abilities, might not have been so far-fetched.
“Out with it, Navigator. What is it that you see?” he repeated, his patience already beginning to wear thin.
The Navigator took a moment to swallow before speaking. “Sir, a beacon of psychic light just...appeared out of nowhere in the Northern end of this sector. A small Warp storm was raging in the exact same area just a moment ago, but now it's just gone, as if it never existed. In fact, the Warp has become abnormally calm there.”
Heth paused for a moment to process what the Navigator had just told him, and he was indeed hard-pressed to believe it. “Are you sure it isn't some sort of mirage? Or a hallucination?” he asked.
The Navigator shook his head. “I swear on my soul, this is no illusion. I can see no traces of the Warp storm whatsoever, and the psychic light is as clear and radiant as the Astronomican itself.”
There was no lie in the Navigator's voice or body language. Something had clearly transpired, something of truly awesome magnitude if his Navigator's words were true. Something which demanded immediate investigation.
But Heth was no expert on matters of the Warp, and he was not comfortable with charging toward an unknown phenomenon such as this with only a single ship and his onboard contingent of Storm Troopers. Immediately a solution sprang to mind, but it was one which he loathed to consider. The Blood Ravens were the closest Space Marine Chapter available, and they were renowned for their investigative prowess as much as their skill in battle. But they had, in his opinion, an unhealthy number of librarians in their ranks, and they had multiple historical instances of Chaotic corruption in their ranks. Worst of all, he had heard disturbing rumors that the Blood Ravens had allied with the Eldar a few times in the past, though he had never found any conclusive evidence of such actions. Either they were really just rumors, or the Blood Ravens were excessively good at covering up their dirty secrets.
Still, Heth was an ambitious man, always seeking to find ways of expanding his influence. Finds like this could dramatically increase an Inquisitor's reputation, and the more an Inquisitor's reputation grew, the more powerful he or she effectively became. And if his Navigator's description of the phenomenon was accurate then it was very likely that everyone in the sector knew about it by now. He needed to act on this opportunity quickly, or it would be snatched up by another Inquisitor. He didn't have the luxury of being choosy.
“Very well. Change course to the nearest Inquisitorial Fortress,” Heth replied as he saved his after action report. Although he planned to utilize the Blood Ravens as the main force for this expedition, he wanted to bring additional forces which he knew would remain loyal to him, just in case.
The Navigator nodded. “Aye sir, changing course now.” The Executor groaned and lurched ever so slightly as it began shifting it's trajectory through the Immaterium.
Heth then began composing two new messages for transmission by the ship's Astropath, one for the Blood Raven Fortress-Monastery Omnis Arcanum and one for the headquarters of the regional Inquisitorial Conclave. His after action report would have to wait.
Word Bearer Strike Cruiser Tyrannus Invictus, Korianis Sector, Segmentum Ultima
060.M42, 17 minutes post barrier collapse
Dark Apostle Ezriel lay prostrate before the giant metal Star of Chaos which stood at the back of the immense, cavernous chapel at the heart of his Host's Strike Cruiser, the Tyrannus Invictus. The black, eight-spoked structure was bathed in the blood of the eight human sacrifices impaled upon each arrow, some of them still alive and whimpering in agony. The Star was flanked on each side by large ceremonial torches, dimly lighting the rest of the chapel. Countless other sacrifices hung upon the great walls of the colossal chamber, filling the air with the stench of blood and the tortured, echoing cries of the dying, some of them begging to be granted the sweet mercy of death, to be released from their torment. Their pleas would remain unanswered.
Ezriel was a bald man whose head and body bore many scars. Some of them were earned in battle; others were self-inflicted as acts of devotion to the Ruinous Powers, as penance for perceived failings or weaknesses, as records of great feats and victories, and countless other reasons. Like his fellow Host brothers, he was abnormally tall and heavily muscled as a result of his geneseed augmentations, with a standing height of over six and a half feet, even without his power armor. He was dressed in the garish blood red and black vestments of his position, with vile litanies and symbols of Chaos sewn into the very cloth.
His entire Host was present for his service, forming an audience of over a hundred Chaos Space Marines behind him, all assuming the same position as himself. Fifteen minutes earlier he received urgent reports from the Host's Sorcerers, who had detected a new light in the Warp radiating from within the sector, a light similar to that of the accursed Astronomican. Seeing this as a sign, he organized this special session of worship, hoping to commune with the Ruinous Powers for guidance.
Ezriel chanted in a deep and resonant, almost demonic voice as he led them in prayer, the Host responding in thunderous, perfectly synchronized recital. The rhythm of foul invocations and the intoxicating psychic energies emanating from his followers gradually lulled him into a euphoric, trance-like state, causing him to recite unconsciously as his mind reached into the Warp, longing to hear the counsel of the Dark Gods.
After many minutes of silence, his prayers were answered. It began as a whisper in the back of his mind, but the voice gradually grew stronger and more defined. He listened in total reverence as his deities relayed their knowledge of this new psychic light to him, and the instructions to be carried out by him and his Host. The voices then faded away as quickly as they came, allowing his consciousness to return to the material world once more.
The Dark Apostle stopped reciting and sat upright, raising his hands into the air. The congregation fell completely silent, leaving only the ghostly wailing of human sacrifices to be heard. He then slowly stood up and turned around to face his Host, his arms outstretched in a prophetic fashion.
“My brothers!” he boomed. “I have been blessed with a holy vision from beyond the mortal realm! We have been chosen by the Dark Gods themselves to venture straight into the heart of the newly-born light in the Warp and extinguish its vile radiance from their sight! And to aid as in this task, they have granted us a boon of two Daemonships and four Greater Daemons, one from each of the Dark Gods!”
A murmur of excitement and anticipation swept through the congregation, many of them instinctively offering up thanks and exaltations to their deities. To receive a commandment directly from the Ruinous Powers was already a rare honor in and of itself, and Hosts of the Word Bearers Legion would carry out such orders with a fanatical zeal bordering on insanity, even in the face of certain death. To be granted such a generous boon meant that they had truly earned the favor of the Dark Gods, which would only serve to fan the flames of their maniacal devotion even further.
Ezriel cracked an evil smile at the eagerness of his Host before continuing. “As faithful servants of Chaos, we shall carry out this sacred duty without fear or hesitation! We will show our enemies neither pity nor mercy, for those who oppose the Dark Gods deserve none! And if we are to die in the commission of this holy task then we shall die in glory!!”
He then raised his hands high in the air. “FOR LORGAR AND FOR CHAOS!!
“FOR LORGAR AND FOR CHAOS!!” the Host thundered back, all of them raising their fists in return.
The service was then concluded and the Word Bearers rushed to their stations to prepare for the coming battle. Shortly thereafter, the Tyrannus Invictus and its four escorts, a pair of Idolator-class Raiders and a pair of Infidel-class Raiders, activated their Warp drives, ripping open crackling pink, violet and red rifts in the fabric of spacetime and plunging themselves into the Immaterium, disappearing from the space they occupied just moments ago without a trace as they sailed toward their target with all speed.
Blood Ravens Battle Barge Omnis Arcanum, Subsector Aurelia, Korianis Sector, Segmentum Ultima
060.M42, 4 hours post barrier collapse
Chapter Master Gabriel Angelos sat in the Librarium Sanctorum of the Omnis Arcanum, scanning over countless texts as he searched for information regarding this new psychic light which had appeared in the other end of the sector. The man was over three and a half centuries old now, though he appeared to be in his sixties. His face was heavily scarred and partly covered by metal plates. His right eye, left arm, and both his legs had been replaced with bionics as a result of his battle with Azariah Kyras, the traitorous former Chapter Master and Chief Librarian of the Blood Ravens whom he had defeated several decades earlier.
Since then, Subsector Aurelia had experienced some measure of peace, but it came at a terrible price, both for the sector and for the Blood Ravens Chapter. Even now, they still hadn't recovered their full fighting strength, though recruitment was running strong and many young and promising battle-brothers were filling up the ranks, men of both skill and virtue. The latter quality was especially critical in order to keep the Chapter from again being crippled by Chaos corruption.
Right now though, it seemed that the whole sector had been thrown into pandemonium by this confounded light in the Warp. The Blood Ravens had received hundreds of reports over the last four hours from many different sources regarding the phenomenon, and speculation was running rampant among the command staff. Some hypothesized that it was some sort of natural Warp rift. Others believed that it was some sort of trick by the Ruinous Powers. There were even a few carefully-worded suggestions that one of the Primarchs, or perhaps even an avatar of the Emperor, may have been reborn, though such ideas only served to fan the flames of debate even further.
While Gabriel would be elated if one of those last hypotheses were correct, he did not want to make any judgments without proof. But so far he had not found any information pertaining to such a phenomenon. Not even texts on the Astronomican had helped explain what forces were at work here.
It was then that the one of the Chapter serfs jogged up to the table where Gabriel sat, looking quite winded. The fact that he had been admitted into this section of the Librarium at all meant that he must have had important business with him.
“Yes?” Gabriel asked evenly, his eyes still scanning the pages before him.
“Ah...forgive me...my lord,” the serf apologized, still catching his breath. “I have...an urgent message...from the Inquisition,” he finished, holding out a sealed document.
Gabriel sighed. He had figured it was only a matter of time before the Inquisition decided to step in. “Thank you,” he replied, taking the paper. “You may return to your duties.”
The serf bowed deeply from the waist before scurrying out of the Librarium as quickly as he came. Gabriel then broke the seal on the document and began reading it.
To: Chapter Master Gabriel Angelos
From: Inquisitor Tiberius Heth of the Ordo Xenos
Classification: TOP SECRET
Thought for the day: Hatred is the Emperor's greatest gift to Humanity.
By now you are probably aware of the light in the Warp which has appeared in the Korianis Sector.
It is my judgment that this anomaly is a potential threat to the Imperium, and thus requires immediate
investigation. The Blood Ravens are the closest Adeptus Astartes Chapter available, and they are
particularly suited for both gathering intelligence and dealing with matters of the Warp. As such, I am
requisitioning one Battle Company to aid in my investigation. You may choose whichever Company
you feel is best suited to the task. Prepare your chosen forces for deployment and send them to the
rendezvous coordinates indicated below as soon as possible.
The Emperor Protects.
Gabriel huffed in irritation, his nostrils flaring. Even after centuries of working with the Inquisition, being given an order so bluntly still got under his skin, especially now that he was Chapter Master. Nonetheless, the Inquisitor's logic was sound, and under the circumstances he was well within his rights to command the aid of the Blood Ravens. But Gabriel found himself bothered by the identity of said Inquisitor. He had heard disturbing things about Tiberius Heth through his dealings with other Inquisitors operating in the sector. Heth's hatred for xenos was something of a legend; he went out of his way to cleanse entire xeno worlds, even those which posed no reasonable threat to the Imperium, often participating in said operations personally. Gabriel himself had little love for xenos, even after having 'friendly' encounters with the Eldar, but slaughtering whole populations without good reason just didn't sit right with him.
But none of that mattered. He had been given a lawful order, and he would carry it out, regardless of his personal feelings. With that, he closed the tomes of knowledge he had opened for his research and returned them to their proper places. He then left the Librarium Sanctorum and proceeded to the Fortress-Monastery's strategic planning chamber, where the logs of the current status of the Blood Ravens' forces were kept. Once he arrived, he opened the logs for the Blood Ravens' Battle Companies. According to the latest entries, the 2nd and 3rd Companies were busy hunting down Chaos warbands in the rest of the Korianis sector and the 4th and 5th Companies were tied up clearing out a particularly severe Feral Ork infestation on Calderis.
“5th Company, huh?” Gabriel thought aloud. They were currently led by Brother-Captain Hector Marius, a former Veteran Sergeant of the 1st Company who had remained loyal to the Blood Ravens under Gabriel during their campaign against Kyras, participating in the final battle against the corrupt Chapter Master on Cyrene. Already an experienced and decorated warrior, he was also an exceptional leader and a brilliant tactician. All of these qualities led to his promotion to the rank of Captain after the death of his predecessor in battle. He earned the Iron Halo less than a decade afterwards. All of this while he was still less than two centuries old.
While many other Captains were quick to throw themselves into the glorious fury of battle alongside their brothers, Marius was patient, judicious, and practical, often thinking outside the box of conventional battle tactics. He wasn't above hearing second opinions from his subordinates and he did his best to maximize the effectiveness of his forces while minimizing casualties, as every Space Marine was both a valued comrade and asset to the Chapter. He chose his battles carefully, but when he sprang into action, he fought with as much courage and ferocity as any other Battle-Brother. Though some of the other officers were skeptical of his comparatively young age and unique style of leadership, they could not doubt his exemplary battle record nor his unerring loyalty to the Emperor and the Blood Ravens Chapter. In Gabriel's opinion, Marius was just the right man to lead this mission.
In any case, the Reserve Companies would have little trouble reinforcing the 4th Company in the 5th's stead; they needed the experience regardless. Having made his decision, he closed the logs and began writing up redeployment orders for transmission by the ship's Astropath.
Ponyville, Equestria
Saturday, 12:25 PM
Twilight Sparkle sighed as she made her way to the grassy fields outside the town limits to meet with Princess Luna for today's training session, leaving Spike in charge of the Library. She and her friends stayed the night in Canterlot, having breakfast at the Royal Palace and catching an hour-long train ride back to Ponyville around 9:30. The town was abuzz with talk about last night's disturbance, which had apparently affected every pony on the planet.
Princess Celestia's latest news conference was featured on the front page of all the morning papers; she assured everypony that the situation was under control, and that her staff had determined that the disturbance from last night was a never-before-seen phenomenon of cosmic origin. She promised that the government would continue to investigate the anomaly and monitor for any further disturbances. Emergency services were also put on heightened alert, just to be safe.
Twilight was glad that Celestia at least told the public part of the truth about the disturbance, but it was overshadowed by everything else that had happened yesterday. First the Changelings attacked Canterlot during Shining Armor and Cadence's wedding, and now some great cosmic evil had made itself known. She and her friends had faced deadly foes before, but this new enemy seemed like something else entirely. The very thought of an evil psychic space surrounding their entire solar system seemed too outlandish to believe. But if Celestia herself had confirmed it...
The unicorn shook her head to clear her thoughts. “One thing at a time, Twilight. Just focus on the training for now,” she mentally told herself. As she continued toward her destination, she was joined by Rainbow Dash, who performed a couple backflips before landing gracefully beside her. Applejack arrived soon after; she had brought her trusty lasso with her. Pinkie Pie came next. She appeared seemingly out of nowhere in her usual Pinkie manner, wearing a cheesy-looking yellow and teal exercise outfit, complete with striped forehoof wristbands, yellow hind leg warmers, and a teal headband. She was clearly psyched about today's activities. Finally, Rarity and Fluttershy caught up with them, completing the group.
A few minutes later, the Element Bearers arrived at the wide open field chosen as their training ground. Sure enough, Princess Luna was waiting for them there, dressed in her usual royal regalia.
“Greetings, my little ponies,” she greeted them as they approached. “I thank you all for arriving in a timely fashion; we have much to do today.” Luna then began to concentrate, her horn now sheathed in a soft blue glow. A beam of light shot from her horn straight up into the sky, followed seconds later by a bright flash. A wave of blue energy expanded outward from the flash, visibly distorting the air in its wake and descending around them in a dome shape. The wave then touched the ground and promptly disappeared. “There,” Luna said as the glow around her horn subsided. “This area is now protected by an invisibility cloak and a redirection ward. We should now be able to train without disturbing anypony.”
“Now, before we begin, I want you all to understand in no uncertain terms that the goal of this training is to learn to defeat the enemy by whatever means necessary. In the case of our newest foe, that includes the use of deadly force,” Luna stated plainly.
The Element Bearers flinched visibly at this, their eyes now filled with apprehension. Twilight was about to speak, but Luna held up a hoof to silence her. “I am very aware that the thought of killing another living being is an unpleasant and repulsive one. But consider this: our newest enemy is born of malicious emotions, just as Nightmare Moon was born of the jealousy and anger which had festered within my own heart. Their entire existence is dedicated to destroying everything we hold dear.”
Luna paused for a moment to let her words sink in. “So, I must ask you, if such entities were immediately threatening the lives of your loved ones, would you hold back in order to merely restrain or subdue them? Or would you use whatever force necessary to stop them as quickly as possible, even if it meant killing them?”
They six remained silent as they contemplated the question, clearly troubled by the scenario Luna had laid out for them. It was Applejack spoke up first. “If my kin were in harm's way, I would do anything to protect them...even if it meant having to kill. I reckon the experience would be horrifying, but I can live with that if it means keeping my friends and family safe.” The others listened to her words and found themselves nodding in agreement, if somewhat tentatively.
“An honorable answer, Miss Applejack,” Luna replied. “That is the essence of the training you are all about to undertake: to prepare for the unthinkable. Make no mistake; it is good that you have no desire to take the life of another, for such an act goes against everything we believe in. However, you must be able and willing to set aside such sentiments in order to stop an even greater evil, if it should come to that. Your lives, as well as the lives of your fellow ponies, will depend on it. Now that you know this, are you all still willing to participate?”
The Element Bearers exchanged looks for a moment before nodding to each other. They then all stepped forward simultaneously, looks of determination on their faces.
Luna couldn't help but smile in admiration of their courage and camaraderie. She just hoped that they would be able to handle the training, because she didn't intend to make it easy for them. “Very well. Then let us begin.”
The group spent the first hour doing basic warm-up exercises followed by an evaluative mock battle, with one mare at a time going up against a group of animated, pony-shaped magical constructs created by Luna, with their skill level set about equal to the Changeling soldiers they had fought before. Rainbow Dash had performed the best so far, as she was both an athletic, fast-flying pegasus and a black belt in equine martial arts. The use of her Sonic Rainboom technique as a weapon was especially impressive. Twilight followed second, repelling the constructs' attacks with magic shields and countering with stun rays and lightning, as well as using telekinesis for both offense and defense. Applejack was third; She wasn't as fast as Rainbow Dash, but she was very strong and sturdy, even by earth pony standards, and she used her lasso to great effect. Still, her technique needed some polishing.
Pinkie Pie's fighting style was...Luna honestly didn't know how to describe it. Instead of confronting her opponents head on, she turned the enemy's strength against them, redirecting their attacks so that they ended up hitting each other instead of their target, although she did occasionally strike them with confetti cannons which she pulled seemingly out of nowhere. She flawlessly dodged the constructs' attacks so often that it almost seemed as if she could see the future. And she did it with unearthly acrobatic skill, often bending and stretching her body in ridiculous and seemingly impossible ways. To top it all off, she was somehow able to instantly 'pop' in and out of reality in different places, and could even move nearly as fast as Rainbow Dash if she so desired. It was clear that Pinkie Pie was no ordinary earth pony, but despite her strangeness, or perhaps because of it, she had serious combat potential.
Rarity did okay, but she had more trouble holding her own than the others, and her technique was a bit sloppy. Besides more fighting practice, she also needed to learn basic defensive and offensive magic, even if wasn't her specialty. And finally...there was Fluttershy. Out of all six of the Element Bearers, she was by far the most ill-suited for fighting. She was almost always on the defensive, constantly trying to avoid getting hit. And what little offense she did have was laughably weak. Luna addressed this after reviewing the performance of the other five.
“Fluttershy, you NEED to learn to fight better than that,” Luna chastized gently. “I know that you abhor conflict and violence, but CANNOT afford to go into battle with such a weak will.”
“I...I know. I'm sorry,” Fluttershy admitted dejectedly, clearly ashamed of her apparent inability to fight back.
Twilight trotted over to the mild-mannered pegasus and patted her on the back in a show of support. “Fluttershy, I KNOW you can do this. You stared down a full-grown dragon, remember? AND you fought against a bear and won!”
“Wait, what?” Fluttershy asked, her expression shifting from sad to confused. The other four Element Bearers appeared equally surprised.
“You fought a bear, Fluttershy?!” Dash asked, gaping in disbelief.
“Um, Twilight? What are you talking about?” Fluttershy asked. “I've never fought against a bear in my life.”
Twilight blinked. “You don't remember? The day I went crazy because I forgot to write a letter for Princess Celestia? I walked to your house to see if you had any problems I could solve so that I could write something about friendship. When I got there, I saw you take down an angry, full-sized bear! In fact, I could have sworn that I saw you snap it's neck!”
Fluttershy's eyes suddenly widened in realization. “Oh! Oh nonononono!” She replied, frantically waving her hooves in front of her. “You've got it all wrong! I wasn't fighting that bear, I was giving him a massage! He was just cranky because his back and shoulders were feeling really stiff, that's all.”
Twilight stared at her as if she had grown a third eye. “Are...are you serious? You gave him a flying kick to the back, as well as what looked like professional wrestling moves!”
Fluttershy blushed. “Well...he was a bear, so I needed to be a little more...'assertive' with him at first...”
“...Alright, I can buy that,” Twilight sighed. “But the way you handled that bear just proves my point even more! You're far more brave and strong than you give yourself credit for!”
“She's right, darling,” Rarity interjected. “You just need to coax out your inner strength. This may not be the best example, but try to recall what that minotaur Iron Will taught you. It might help you become more aggressive in battle.”
“Um, are you sure that's a good idea?” Fluttershy asked nervously. “I don't want to become mean again.”
“I know, darling, and we don't want that either,” Rarity said with a smile. “Still, like Princess Luna said, you need to start fighting back seriously. As long as you only focus on those aggressive feelings while fighting, I think you'll be just fine.”
“Well...alright, I'll try,” Fluttershy replied, now standing noticeably straighter, her eyes filled with newfound determination.
“That's the spirit, sugarcube!” Applejack cheered her on. “Just remember, no matter what happens, we've got your back.” The others quickly nodded in agreement.
After their pep talk, the group spent the next hour watching Luna explain and demonstrate military close combat techniques against her own construct, with Twilight studiously taking notes on everything she said and did. After taking a quick water break, they began individually practicing what they learned on Luna's constructs, which, unlike the free-for-all mock battle from earlier, was conducted in a one-on-one sparring format. It would be a while before the Element Bearers became truly proficient in these techniques, but they were still making good progress; Luna certainly didn't expect them to learn everything in one day. And it was then that Luna saw a marked improvement in Fluttershy's confidence; in fact, she was performing almost as well as Rainbow Dash now that she was actually using her wingpower to her advantage.
For the fourth and final hour, the group participated in another mock battle. Their performance reviews and military close combat practice were already beginning to pay off: their movements had become visibly more efficient, exploiting openings in the enemy's defenses more often while watching out for and guarding against counterattacks. Twilight no longer had to rely on magic most of the time for offense and defense, and Rarity's fighting style was more neat and professional than before. Above all, Fluttershy had become a veritable hurricane of force. She wasn't just fighting back, she was actually winning against most of the constructs now. Even she was surprised by how much better she was doing.
By the end of the session, the Element Bearers were throughly exhausted, lying on the ground and panting for breath. Luna was very pleased with the progress they had made today.
“You have all exceeded my expectations,” Luna complimented. “There are not many ponies capable of learning to fight as well as you have in such a short amount of time. Keep up the good work, for there are still many things for you to learn and many challenges for you to overcome.”
Luna then smiles brightly. “Today's training session is now officially concluded. Now all of you go get some rest; you have earned it.”
Too tired to respond properly, the Element Bearers simply sighed in relief, opting to take a quick nap in the grass.
Inquisitorial Black Ship Executor, Unnamed Inquisitorial Fortress, Korianis Sector, Segmentum Ultima
060.M42, 22 hours post barrier collapse
Inquisitor Heth clenched his teeth as he read the reply from the headquarters of the regional Conclave in his personal quarters. Another Inquisitor, this one from the Ordo Malleus, had been assigned to investigate the light in the Warp along with him, as they felt it necessary that an expert on daemons, psykers, and the Immaterium be present for such a mission. As if that weren't bad enough, the identity of said Inquisitor only served to anger him even further.
Jacob Xander was a young upstart, not even a century old, who had made a name for himself as an expert Daemonhunter. He was also a psyker and a Radical, specifically a member of the Casophilian faction, which studied the transition of the soul between the material realm and the Warp, and the Seculos Attendous faction, which believed that the Ecclesiarchy, and perhaps even the Imperial Cult itself, were stunting the advancement of Humanity. He was also a member of the Xeno Hybris faction, which not only advocated the use of alien technologies, but also cooperation with xeno civilizations!
There were no words to adequately describe the sheer depth of disgust Heth harbored for Xander. He was a mutant and a heretic, and deserved nothing less than to be purged with holy fire. But no such action could be taken against him because the Inquisition had never found any evidence of disloyalty to the Emperor or the Imperium on his part, despite his Radical beliefs and methods. Heth had no choice but to go along with the decision of the Conclave, but he would be damned if was going to let that insolent bastard upstage him.
The irate Inquisitor's brooding was suddenly interrupted by the overhead vox unit. <“Inquisitor Heth, this is the bridge. The Kill-teams you requisitioned have boarded the Executor. They are currently assembled in the chapel.”>
Heth's anger was partially quenched by this news. He keyed the appropriate channel and spoke into the microphone on his desk. “This is Inquisitor Heth, understood. Begin preparations for immediate departure.”
<”As you wish, my Lord. Bridge out.”>
The Inquisitor then exited his personal quarters and briskly made his way down to the chapel through the ship's dim labyrinth of corridors, taking a couple elevators along the way. Several minutes later, he walked through the colossal arched entrance of the chapel. There, a group of twelve Space Marines stood at attention, separated into two groups of six. Their black power armor suits featured an armored collar not present on the standard Mark VII Aquila armor used by regular Space Marines. Their silvery grey left pauldrons were engraved with holy litanies and emblazoned with with the thrice-crossed 'I' of the Inquisition, itself emblazoned with a skull and crossbones. The right pauldron of each individual Marine retained the colors and symbols of his home Chapter. They were the Chamber Militant of the Ordo Xenos: the Deathwatch.
Heth surveyed the two Kill-teams as walked towards them. The group on the left consisted of an Ultramarine, a Blood Raven, a Space Wolf, a Raven Guard, an Imperial Fist, and a Doom Eagle. Their Kill-team codename was Raptor. The group on the right consisted of a Red Hunter, a Black Templar, a Blood Angel, a White Scar, a Salamander, and a Novamarine. Their Kill-team codename was Sabre. Heth then proceeded to address them.
“I am Inquisitor Tiberius Heth of the Ordo Xenos. You have all been chosen to take part in a mission to investigate the light in the Warp which appeared in the northern region of the Korianis Sector less than a day ago. Our objective is simple: if the source of this light turns out to be a threat to the Imperium, we will eliminate it with extreme prejudice. If not, then we will seize and secure it for the benefit of the Mankind. In either case, I expect you to follow my orders without question or hesitation. Fail to meet my expectations and you will be stripped of your Deathwatch membership and sent back to your Chapter in disgrace. Any questions?”
Both teams remained completely silent. Heth cracked a barely noticable smirk. “Very well. We will be departing the station in less than ten minutes. Dismissed.”
With that, the Inquisitor made his way up to the bridge while the Deathwatch Marines remained in the chapel for a brief prayer session. Sure enough, less than ten minutes later, the Executor pulled away from the Inquisitorial space station, flanked by a pair of Sword-class Frigates and a pair of Cobra-class Destroyers. Once they were clear of the station, the five ships activated their Warp drives and shunted themselves into the Immaterium, heading for the rendezvous point.
