Source
<

Inquisipony Stallius 1317

Joined January 2012
23 followers

    Groups

    Inquisipony Stallius's Stories (1)

    • Archives of the Friendquisition
      A Warhammer 40K crossover. An Inquisipony and his team must uncover and stop a dark conspiracy.

      84,618 words · 2,081 views · 90 likes · 1 dislikes

    In the grim darkness of the far future, there are only ponies! Equestria is assailed by countless foes from without, but only the shadowy Friendquisition can protect it from the enemies within. Can one Inquisipony and his team uncover a plot that threatens to destroy everything they hold dear? Or will sinister forces prevail in an MLP future that has become like the Warhammer 40k universe, the original grimdark franchise?

    As seen at Equestria Daily. Note that the most recent version of the story, including edits and new chapters, will be available there first, and changes will eventually trickle over here. Please feel encouraged to leave comments here, there or at this thread on Ponychan. I would very much like to hear from you.

    The Princess Protects

    Vector by Prince Bluelolz on Ponychan

    First Published
    10th Jan 2012
    Last Modified
    16th Feb 2013

    Comments ( 127 )

    #1 · Chapter 1 · 67w, 5d ago · · ·
    Reply 

    I must say I'm loving it so far. I like how you had the unicorn threaten the patrons with pies, it gave the whole thing a very distinct MLP feel.

    #2 · Chapter 13 · 67w, 1d ago · · ·
    Reply 

    I'm going to assume the red marine was. A khornate beserker or at least a follower of khorne.

    #3 · Chapter 13 · 66w, 5d ago · · ·
    Reply 

    >>177356

    Thank you. One of the things I'm striving for in this story is to make the setting feel like both MLP and 40K at the same time. It's still Equestria, after all, and even if it's a little grimdarker, and the ponies' preferred weapon of war is the pie.

    >>187496

    That would be a fairly safe guess.:raritywink: However, I've thus-far eschewed direct references to the Chaos Gods, as they don't exist in MLP. The closest thing the ponies have to the Warp (from what I've inferred) would be magic associated with negative emotions. So rather than being "Khornate," he would be said to have been corrupted by his anger. But still quite a berserker, I assure you.

    #4 · Chapter 14 · 65w, 3d ago · · ·
    Reply 

    This awesome keep up the awesome work!

    #5 · Chapter 14 · 63w, 5d ago · · ·
    Reply 

    Ah, this old fic. I remember reading it when I first saw it on EqD, and one of the factors that inspired me to work on my own 40k MLP crossover.. Still as fun as I remember. :pinkiehappy:

    #6 · Chapter 16 · 62w, 12h ago · · ·
    Reply 

    Another amazing chapter! Keep up the great work.

    #7 · Chapter 16 · 60w, 4d ago · · ·
    Reply 

    The new cover is glorious

    #8 · Chapter 16 · 60w, 4d ago · · ·
    Reply 

    I've read the first few chapters of this story a while ago and stopped around the part where they escaped the illegal pet store that was full of cheat-worms. I just have a question: how exactly are you combining them? Do I need to read the entire story to find this out, or am I just missing something?

    At first, being 40k, I thought Equestria was a planet. But then, you described it like it all took place on a single planet, making it more akin to WH Fantasy. Many things didn't make sense, even in the pony universe (peeked at last chapter at the time where the guy was executed by pie to the face), let alone having anything to do with 40k. In fact, it doesn't even seem to have very much to do with WH at all.

    Of course, I only read a couple chapters, but still...

    #9 · Chapter 16 · 60w, 4d ago · · ·
    Reply 

    >>351217

    :raritywink:

    Thanks, I got lucky. Caballus was drawn on a request, and I added the text and icon myself.

    >>351913

    I've been told it does have similarities with the Fantasy version, in both in style and scope. Rather than do the sort of crossover where something contrives to put the two universes together, the idea was to use the MLP world as a base, and pretend that it underwent pretty much the same changes that affected humans in 40k. Society, culture, technology, historical events, institutions are brought as close to 40k as I felt was still organic. Obviously, it's a matter of opinion, but I think I got close, and most of the feedback I've gotten back agrees.

    I did keep a few things more on the pony side, such as avoiding the space part. I'm basically treating the pony's world as the galaxy, the nation of Equestria as the Imperium, individual regions (towns, cities, etc) as planets, and the sky/space in between as outer space. At least, conceptually. The comparison is most obvious in the most recent chapter, actually, though I won't spoil it. I also avoided quite a bit of overt violence, in keeping with MLP's cartoony nature. If I recall correctly, I haven't even explicitly mentioned blood yet. Having ponies use pies, as at it's their canonical weapon of war, instead of guns, was meant to be a bit humorous for the reader, while it's understood by the characters to be just as serious.

    Much of my interpretation of the WH setting comes from the works of Dan Abnett and also parts of the Dark Heresy and Rogue Trader roleplay games, so if you're not familiar with the background that pertains to the Inquisition specifically, the connections might not be immediately obvious. Even so, I hope the first five or so chapters weren't entirely without merit. I've been told it's enjoyable even by a reader completely unfamiliar with the WH property, and I strive to make it a generally decent story, crossover or no. If you do continue reading, even if you don't end up liking it, I'd love to hear your thoughts.

    Ave Imperatrix Celestialis.

    #10 · Chapter 16 · 60w, 3d ago · · ·
    Reply 

    Roughshod and Hairtrigger discussing ammunition was pretty brilliant. Fragmenting nut clusters was what got me.

    #11 · Chapter 16 · 60w, 3d ago · · ·
    Reply 

    >>352445

    Thanks for explaining. And yes, the story is good but just not my cup of tea. For the type of story it is, it's great.

    #12 · Chapter 13 · 59w, 5d ago · · ·
    Reply 

    >>197448

    You may say what you like about the Ponies not having Chaos Gods. In my mind, if it Charges Mindlessly like a Khorne Berserker, Bellows Incoherently like a Khorne Berserker, and is in a Permanent State of Fury like a Khorne Berserker, it's a Khorne Berserker.

    Of course, in my own personal Headcanon, Discord is a Greater Daemon of Tzeentch who got mildly lost and got... Well. Corrupted is not the right word, but its the best there is, by Equestria.

    Also. For this story. THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU!

    (Not Fanboying at all, Oh, No. Certainly Not.)

    Oh. Question. Diamond Dogs = Dark Eldar, Yes/No? That's the feel I've been getting for them, at least...

    #13 · Chapter 17 · 59w, 5d ago · · ·
    Reply 

    >>376132

    Well, you're certainly welcome. Fanboying is not at all discouraged, as long as it's honest.

    I hate to just drop it awkwardly into the story as exposition for its own sake (as some authors might), but I have thought about the nature of Chaos as it exists/would exist in the MLP world, and this is what I got:

    Daemonic entities, including the Chaos Gods, are manifestations in the Warp of the emotions felt by sentient creatures in physical reality. MLP is similar, in that emotions can clearly manifest as magic. The Elements of Harmony are one example, an artifact that harnesses the positive emotions of friendship into powerful purifying magic. Windigos are even more direct, as they are purely magical creatures (like daemons), who feed on negative emotions (like daemons). Also consider Luna/NMM, since she is almost an exact analogue of Horus. Her jealousy (and in my headcannon, a similar such symbiotic negative-magic-being) did the same things to her that it did to Horus: turned her scary and evil. And I agree: obviously, Discord is, in all but title, a greater daemon of Tzeentch. Between the devious plans without a discernible agenda, horrifying mutations, mastery of sorcery, corruption, manipulation, and literal puppetry, there's really no room for doubt.

    But in the end, this is Equestria, not the Milky Way galaxy. There are no humans, and no Chaos Gods. In their place, I tend toward the idea of some nebulous, intelligence, not unlike a Warp-entity, driving and directing the evil magic of the world. I have the ponies call it "The Darkness" or "The Great Tenebrae" rather than dividing it into the Ruinous Powers we're familiar with. It felt more appropriate to me. I hope it doesn't bother you too much.

    And yes, the Diamond Dogs are analogous to the Dark Eldar. I'm glad that was at least figure-outable. I figured that, since kidnapping and forced labor were already in their MO, it was pretty obvious race assignment. From there I only found more similarities: hit and run tactics, striking from nowhere (underground vs the Webway), and the way the splinter rifle is described, it already shoots some kind of crystal.

    Thanks for reading.:pinkiehappy:

    #14 · Chapter 17 · 59w, 2d ago · · ·
    Reply 

    I loved the back story, I love the way you blend the 40k universe with the MP universe it just fits really well.

    I cannot wait to read the next chapter!

    #15 · Chapter 17 · 58w, 5d ago · · ·
    Reply 

    :pinkiegasp: This is here? Really? I finally get to voice my opinion?:pinkiehappy:

    ... Aww - This one doesn't leave me with any unanswered questions or constructive criticisms or anything.

    So... guess I'll just leave comments about how awesome this is and how I want to read more?:twilightblush:

    But seriously, congratulations on writing the most credible 40k/MLP cross I have seen to date.

    It is awesome, and there needs to be more of it.:eeyup:

    #16 · Chapter 17 · 58w, 4d ago · · ·
    Reply 

    >>404629

    Thanks. This seemed as good a place as any to branch out. EqD is good visibility, but the conversation is a little lacking. If you really can't give any criticism, I'll not try to wring it from you. The praise will have to do, I suppose.:rainbowkiss:

    And don't worry, I have no plans to stop. Even if no one else liked it, I would still probably keep writing. That said, I am slightly surprised at the positive reception I've gotten. When other writers of other 40k crossovers tell me I've been some kind of influence, it makes me feel like some sort of big shot. In my wildest, most uncharacteristically immodest dreams :twilightsheepish:, I dare hope to one day see this story become something akin to the "Fallout: Equestria of 40k." All I can do is aim high, and keep trying to improve.

    Ave Imperatrix Celestialis

    #17 · Chapter 18 · 58w, 1d ago · · ·
    Reply 

    Oh boy, this cannot end well for mystic.

    Great chapter I cannot wait to read more!

    #19 · Chapter 18 · 57w, 4d ago · · ·
    Reply 

    HI INQUISIPONY STALLIUS YOU ARE THE BEST :D

    I'm still leaving you comments on EQD, but this is just a little hello to say I found you!

    #20 · Chapter 18 · 57w, 3d ago · · ·
    Reply 

    >>441717

    Thanks Present, your watchful eye is always quite welcome. I fear I've been without it for far too long.:twilightblush: It actually hadn't occurred to me to link my EqD page to here as well as the google doc. Feel free to leave me comments here, if you prefer, since I like FimFiction's comment system much better than EqD's. I'll even be responding to your last critique here instead. It'll look a little strange to everyone else.:derpytongue2:

    Errors are all fixed. It's strange that a few of them were auto-corrected in my Word document, but not before they were copied to the google doc, and then copied here. Oh well.

    I try to pick names for everything that has at least some little nod to something or another, either a 40k-style reference to ponies, or a pony-style reference to 40k. "Destrier" is a good example: A passing mention of a ship class is named after a type of medieval war horse.

    That Dragonshy reference also goes the other way: Vulkan, before he was Primarch of the Salamanders, slew a giant alien lizard in a volcano in a contest against the Emperor.

    The occasional shift in POV is a technique I imitate from my muse, Dan Abnett. Truly the Cadillac of 40k authors.

    Shaking? At the confectionatus scene? Really? I suppose I was going for "awe-inspiring," so I guess it worked. And I'm glad my little stabs at wordplay aren't entirely in vain as well.:rainbowlaugh:

    I was a little worried that the flashback would either be too obvious or not obvious enough. The Stablea Progenium and a lot of the related terms are taken almost directly from the Schola Progenium of Warhammer background. I've only ever encountered it in the events of a story in "Cain's Last Stand," of the Caiaphas Cain HERO OF THE IMPERIUM series. It is a rare and often brief glimpse into peaceful, civilian Imperial society.

    Of course Banehoof was an Inquisipony. How else do you become an Inquisipony Lord?:ajsmug:

    A fan of the Mechanicus, eh? I figured it's probably easier to do the Sign of the Cog as a pony, as they don't have knuckles. But when it comes the the Sign of the Aquila? Probably only pegasi.

    I apologize for getting you all worked up only to leave you hanging.:raritywink: Once I get through my scholarly obligations, I'll be sure to keep chiping away at the next chapter.

    :trollestia:Ave Imperatrix Celestialis:trollestia:

    #21 · Chapter 18 · 57w, 3d ago · · ·
    Reply 

    >>443142

    >Shaking? At the confectionatus scene?

    I get a little overwrought sometimes. :B

    And most of what you said went completely over my head. You know I know nothing about Warhammer, right? That's why the names keep impressing me; I have to imagine they're extremely clever takes on the very somber Latin WH terms.

    #22 · Chapter 1 · 52w, 6d ago · · ·
    Reply 

    Pie and slingshots make this a true MLP story, nice job. I'll keep reading.

    #23 · Chapter 13 · 46w, 2d ago · · ·
    Reply 

    >>376132

    I thought the Deep-Grabbers more resemble Orks...but the whole 'take-slaves' thing would certainly point to Dark Eldar. And wouldnt Discord embody Chaos Undivided? I see him more like Abbaddon, Champion of Chaos and leader of a Black Crusade/Disharmony amongst ponies.

    >>197448

    Big props for the merging of MLP-W40k lore: 'Dracopath' - thats just ingenius!

    I got to say, this story is really good. I'm not sure you wanted me to laugh everytime they kill a cultist with a cupcake but I cant help it...:rainbowlaugh:...this story deserves far more reads.

    #24 · Chapter 16 · 46w, 2d ago · · ·
    Reply 

    Ah, so you played Dawn Of War II Retribution? You sir just took the most epic introduction to an exterminatus and made me choke on my laughter. 'Confectionatus'!! :rainbowlaugh::rainbowlaugh: I'll never be able to view that cutscene without thinking of the Cyclonic Fruitcake...

    About the setting, I think its great that you didnt involve space travel (yet) and putting the subsectors as countries was a good call. This way you maintained both an MLP and W40k atmosphere.

    And I immidiatetly recognized Hairtrigger...I assume you make a reference to the Arbites that joins Eisenhorn in Dan Abnett's trilogy? I'm not a codex reader myself (I dont play the tabletop), but I own quite a collection of novels and, as said, played the games.

    Keep up the story!

    #25 · Chapter 18 · 46w, 2d ago · · ·
    Reply 

    I was already wondering how you would weave Luna into your background story:raritywink: To make her the Omnassiah is awesome.

    Never liked the overzealous Sororitas/Sisters Of Battle in W40k and I see I wont like the pony version either. Keep Mystic alive!!!

    #26 · Chapter 20 · 46w, 2d ago · · ·
    Reply 

    >>829424

    Thanks, it's nice to know others are "getting" it. I think a straight-faced sprinkling of MLP's lighter tone into the story is my favorite part of the crossover.

    >>829563

    I have in fact played DoW2:R, and I did use it as a sort of baseline for how I would do it myself. If I managed to capture any of the awe of the moment, or make it funny, I guess I did it right.

    It's funny you bring up Eisenhorn. It and Ravenor are very much the inspiration for this story, at least the broadest strokes (an Inquisitor and his team investigate Chaos conspiracies). I think Hairtrigger was influenced a little by Fischig, though also by material from the Dark Heresy rulebooks. At one point, I was toying with ideas for things that could happen toward the ending, and I realized one idea mirrored almost exactly the actions of Fischig in Hereticus. I thought "nah, that's too close," and I scrapped it. You could draw rough lines of comparison from most of my characters to ones from those books, though I hope I wasn't too obvious.

    >>829830

    Yeah, I figure since this is still Equestria, I wouldn't be able to follow 40k history exactly. So even though Luna fills in for Horus in the ancient past, she was turned good again afterward. Then she takes a secondary spiritual role to Celestia, where only the Meq-priests still pay her homage. The Celestia-centric Heliarchy (Ecclesiarchy equivalent) considers this borderline heresy to orthodox teachings, but tolerates it out of necessity. Hence Sera's patronizing dismissiveness of Fyzzix.

    As for the Fillies of Battle, well, they have a role to play, and part of it is to be unlikeable.

    Thought for the Day: From the Princess all life springs. And to her, all lives must be devoted.

    :trollestia: Ave Imperatrix Celestialis :trollestia:

    #27 · Chapter 21 · 45w, 2d ago · · ·
    Reply 

    Did he just tell an Arbitrotter he could have fun? In a den of thieves? He does realise how that's going to end, right?

    #28 · Chapter 21 · 45w, 1d ago · · ·
    Reply 

    Interesting. You know, I've been seeing a lot of fics on this site but I never expected the Equestrian Friendquisition.

    #29 · Chapter 21 · 45w, 1d ago · · ·
    Reply 

    >>871298

    Sigh.  Okay, I'll bite.

    NOPONY expects the Equestrian Friendquisition!

    #30 · Chapter 21 · 45w, 1d ago · · ·
    Reply 

    >>871298

    >>871940

    This is the most heretical thing I've ever heard.:ajbemused:

    #31 · Chapter 21 · 45w, 16h ago · · ·
    Reply 

    Yay! I am definitely hungry for more Archives.

    I forget what Caballus is supposed to be masquerading as, but I guess mech-adepts aren't weird enough to see hanging around that Fyz's presence would be a hole in the ruse, hm? Ah, at least Mystic has a good cover story. I was wondering about her too.

    Dash it but these recent chapters have been feeling altogether too short. D:

    #32 · Chapter 21 · 45w, 8h ago · · ·
    Reply 

    >>876479

    Thanks a bunch. I hope to get the next one going quickly. I find the speed I write is directly proportional to how excited I am about the content of the chapter.

    To clarify: Caballus is disguised as a Rogue Trader. In 40k, Rogue Traders are intrepid individuals who are empowered by the Imperium to explore the beyond its boundaries, as a combination of missionary, merchant and conquistador. Because of the apparent profitability of this, Rogue Traders frequently form ancient, wealthy dynasties with lots of power and influence. I'll be getting a little more into it in the next chapter.

    Fyzzix is posing as his seneschal, basically a manager of his enterprises. Because the Adeptus Mechanicus (or in my story, Mequestricus) have a jealously guarded monopoly on the development of technology, they can be found nearly anywhere large or complex machinery are. They are also valued for their scientific and analytical skills. Expect more dealings with them in the future as well.

    Mystic is posing as a Dracopath. Astropaths (short for Astro-telepaths) in 40k are psychics who can send messages across space. I thought this was rather like Spike sending letters magically, so I figure some unicorns (who stand in for psychics) could replicate the ability by using dragonfire. She's basically Caballus's walking mailbox.

    I know you don't necessarily care too much about the 40k half as such, but that's some background anyway. Consult http://wh40k.lexicanum.com/wiki/Main_Page if you want to broaden your view.

    #33 · Chapter 21 · 45w, 6h ago · · ·
    Reply 

    >>878581

    Not at all! The background is always interesting.

    #34 · Chapter 21 · 44w, 5d ago · · ·
    Reply 

    I have a question. Fyzzix mentions Lunassiah. Does that mean that Luna is the analogue for the 'Machine God'?

    #35 · Chapter 21 · 44w, 4d ago · · ·
    Reply 

    >>890717

    Indeed. Not because she has anything to do with machines, but I felt it fit fairly well in the Imperium's religious structure. I had to put her in somewhere, and with Celestia making such an obvious Emperor, the clear secondary deity of the Imperium is the Machine God. Some Mechanicus maintain that the Emperor is the Omnissiah, the earthly avatar of the Machine God, in order to appease the hardline Ecclesiarchy. Those that claim otherwise, that the Machine God is distinct from the Emperor (as Luna is distinct from Celestia) are considered borderline heretics by the mainstream Imperial Cult. The fact that Luna pulled a Horus way back when only increases the tension. After all, when your God is the sun, worshiping the moon instead (who at two points tried to overthrow it) is extra heretical.

    It'll come up much later.

    #36 · Chapter 21 · 44w, 4d ago · · ·
    Reply 

    >>895516

    I was trying to figure out how you were going to work in the Hersey with Luna as Horus and the Machine God.

    Also, you have tipped your hat towards Fluttershy with the Fluttermanders :rainbowlaugh:, so does that mean that the Mane six play a roll or will they be resigned to the history books like the Primarchs? Or is that prying too much?

    #37 · Chapter 21 · 44w, 4d ago · · ·
    Reply 

    >>895799

    Since this is still Equestria and not the Imperium, I figure I don't have to try following every little detail of 40k lore if it doesn't match MLP canon. Luna went through a thousand year Horus phase, but after she was purified by the Elements, she took her place by her sister's side, and became slowly relegated to her current backseat Omnissiah role.

    And just like the Primarchs, the mane 6 are figures of myth and legend from the distant past, and play no active role in the goings-on of grimdark-future Equestria. I don't have too much thought invested into them (this isn't a space-marine-centric story), so what exactly happened to them probably won't even come up. I figure if I try to get too deep into which pony is which Primarch and why, then someone will object, and then I'll have to figure it out. Right now, I'm leaning toward just saying that later generations were inspired by the feats of the Elements, and when Pony Marines appeared, they styled themselves after these "Harmonarchs" without any direct link to them. Just an idea right now, but it's a tantalizingly easy solution.

    #38 · Chapter 21 · 44w, 4d ago · · ·
    Reply 

    >>896772

    And that is why I like your story. You don't force things to fit where they don't belong.

    #39 · Chapter 21 · 44w, 1h ago · · ·
    Reply 

    >>896772

    And here I thought we'd be hearing about Twilight Sparklimann of Unimar.  :twilightsheepish:

    Twilight could be my spiritual liege any day.

    #40 · Chapter 21 · 43w, 6d ago · · ·
    Reply 

    >>896811

    I'll certainly always defer to show canon, first and foremost, because it does maintain the feel I'm going for. I can always add details that don't contradict canon to add more 40k content, but I feel the most immersive parts are the ones that expand on show canon, and frame it in a 40k perspective. It's also convenient that a lot can change after 10 thousand years if need be, including the historical record.

    >>919934

    Make no mistake; the Codex Astrotes is signed with a six-pointed star.:twilightsmile:

    But it could still go either way: Maybe Twilight wrote it in her later years, as the Harmonarch of a Pony Marine legion, or maybe the first Chapter Master of the Ultrasparkles compiled her writings and added new ones in her honor, centuries after she was gone. I've seen other fics make them into Primarchs, but whenever I try to think of them as towering paragons of the Empress's wrath, it just feels OOC to me; the mane 6 have never really had a violent bone in their bodies. Again, it probably won't come up, at least not for a while, so I don't have to decide how my fanon will mesh with the canon just yet. But what I can tell you for certain is that they definitely won't be making any appearances.

    #41 · Chapter 21 · 43w, 6d ago · · ·
    Reply 

    >>920489

    Since you mentioned the historical record changing in 10 thousand years, maybe the Mane 6 weren't actually "towering paragons of the Empress's wrath" but millennia of myths and legends entangling with their stories have transformed the way they're 'remembered'?

    Just throwin' out ideas here. :applejackunsure:

    And if the Codex Astrotes is signed with a six-pointed star, does that mean that the Pony Marines are Jewish? :trollestia:

    #42 · Chapter 21 · 43w, 6d ago · · ·
    Reply 

    >>922989

    That's basically what I was saying. Rather than assume the Elements matured into Primarch-like beings, they would simply be remembered that way. Like Fluttershy, for example: In reality, she shames the dragon into leaving peacefully. After a couple hundred years, the story is probably that she fought it into submission, and a couple hundred after that, she might have slain three or four single-hoofedly. Then, one chapter from the first generation of Pony Marines thinks "that Element of Kindness sounded pretty badass. Lets use her as a spiritual liege."

    Anyway, that's what I'm leaning towards. That, and heaping amounts of intentional vagueness on the subject. My story is much more concerned with "present" events anyway, so until I have a reason to explicitly state how it really was, readers can assume whatever they please.

    #43 · Chapter 22 · 42w, 1d ago · · ·
    Reply 

    Oh mother, there's more Archives to read! :D

    Ahh, we get to see the others first!

    She drank the whole thing? @_@ Bad Hairtrigger!

    Hmm, I have seen this "where to look while dancing" scene before.

    Fun? My god. There's got to be a regulation against that somewhere.

    Smile instances!

    Roaneo? GROAN

    Snidely. I love it.

    Oh god, that guy is creepy. D:

    This was a good chapter. :D Things are heating up!

    #44 · Chapter 22 · 42w, 1d ago · · ·
    Reply 

    >>986951

    Dancing scene: I'm trying my hand at the slightest bit of romance here (mostly for character development reasons), so I probably ended up being cliche and ham-handed about it. I'm not sure what my strong suit is as a writer, but I doubt it's that.

    But at least my puns are going well.:trollestia: The names of things may well be what I work hardest on.

    #45 · Chapter 22 · 42w, 1d ago · · ·
    Reply 

    >>987795

    Haha!

    I'm all right with the romance. It's been pretty obvious since the outset, and I've been enjoying it. Just don't make the mistake that you have to remind your reader "THERE IS ROMANCE RIGHT NOW"; let the characters breathe and they'll do what's necessary to get the point across.

    #46 · Chapter 23 · 41w, 5d ago · · ·
    Reply 

    The plot thickens...

    inb4 plot joke:  "I hear diet and exercise helps with that.":trollestia:

    #47 · Chapter 21 · 40w, 2d ago · · ·
    Reply 

    8/10/12: I've added a couple details about Caballus's outfit. Basically, if you already know what Rogue Traders tend to look like, he's dressed like that.

    8/12/12: Also, I gave Meister a sword in chapter 23. Pip had a sword with his pirate costume in Luna Eclipsed, so swords are canon. Why not.

    #48 · Chapter 24 · 40w, 1d ago · · ·
    Reply 

    The plot thickens. The pie filling, on the other hand...

    #49 · Chapter 24 · 40w, 1d ago · · ·
    Reply 

    >>1066537

    ...explodes?  I must say, those pony bakers are quite ingenious.  I see Pinkie in a whole new light now.

    Wait, when she was throwing cakes at Spike in "Secrets of my Excess," would that count as deadly force?

    #50 · Chapter 24 · 40w, 1d ago · · ·
    Reply 

    "Jay walking, refusing to cooperate with guards men, baking explosive weapons"

    "I said they had an explosion of flavor! Not that they would explode!"

    #51 · Chapter 24 · 39w, 5d ago · · ·
    Reply 

    >>1067275

    She made it explicitly clear that she was "assaulting him with cake.":pinkiecrazy:

    While they won't always match up exactly, I generally think of pies as a bolter-equivalent weapon (bulky but portable, with lots of stopping power), with the smaller cupcakes being like lasguns, and larger cakes probably being anything bigger, like lascannons, autocannons, or even artillery.

    #52 · Chapter 24 · 39w, 1d ago · · ·
    Reply 

    >Stairs were an unworthy foe.

    Wat.

    "smoking pie" Hah!

    "black ovid" You never cease to amaze with the ponifications.

    Saint MacIntarius, eh? :D Ah, and that would be where "Macsnacht" comes from.

    Actually glad I didn't have time to read this last weekend, because I definitely want to know what happens next. You're so very good at handing out the plot a spoonful at a time.

    Uh-oh!

    Whew. Dodged a cupcake, there.

    Meister comes off as a very strong character, surprisingly.

    So the Princess no longer walks among Her people? :O Surprising!

    I love this scene describing the singer, who I'm visualizing as a pegasus Fleur de Lis. Great visuals here.

    Good one, Caballus!

    So we get to see a little bit into the workings of confectionery weaponry. Interesting! You know, I totally nicked the idea for a recent small fic of mine. Couldn't work out how it even happened, went with something more akin to acid.

    #53 · Chapter 24 · 39w, 1d ago · · ·
    Reply 

    >>1109605

    In 40k there's an Imperial Guard general based on Alexander the Great named Macharius. I'm particularly proud of coming up with the ponified name.

    They also use the more latiny versions of animal names, like calling lion-like aliens "felids," so "ovid" made sense.

    Meister sort of grew in importance the closer I got to the parts that involved him.

    " who I'm visualizing as a pegasus Fleur de Lis."

    That's pretty awesome of you to say, because that is exactly what I was going for! Except with more fluorescent coloring. And with bigger, Princess-style wings, rather than the stuny-looking normal pegasus ones. I think they're more elegant that way.

    #54 · Chapter 24 · 39w, 17h ago · · ·
    Reply 

    >>1112388

    I can see that. :D

    #55 · Chapter 25 · 36w, 6d ago · · ·
    Reply 

    awesome story. this is easily my favourite w40k crossover. faved

    #56 · Chapter 25 · 36w, 6d ago · · ·
    Reply 

    Uhh!

    The chapters seem so short!

    I sometimes feel like I love this fic too much. In any case, have some mustaches :moustache: :moustache: :moustache:

    #57 · Chapter 25 · 36w, 6d ago · · ·
    Reply 

    Oh man, getting to a new chapter within 24 hours. :D This is unheard of!

    Zap apple pie, aw yeah! :D Good use of stuff from the show, once more!

    Caballus's reaction to the situation is priceless.

    I actually feel bad that Caballus is having him on at the moment. Meister seems a decent sort, at least in person. Ah well. I sense the seeds being laid for something far grander in the future.

    #58 · Chapter 25 · 36w, 6d ago · · ·
    Reply 

    All you need now is a tactical genius!

    #59 · Chapter 25 · 36w, 6d ago · · ·
    Reply 

    >>1210337

    I know that feel, bro. I wonder if it's worse to love it too much and have to write it at the same time, because I always feel like I'm not doing it justice. At any rate, mustaches accepted.

    >>1211712

    Thanks. Moral ambiguity is an integral part of the Inquisition in 40k. When the bad guys involve unwitting innocents, it rarely goes well for them, as the Inquisition has a very "whatever it takes" mentality. That might mean deceiving a well-intentioned citizen, or destroying an entire planet to keep it out of enemy hands. It's not hard at all to feel sympathetic to the pawns caught in the crossfire. This lie is, right now, pretty harmless, though.

    #60 · Chapter 25 · 36w, 6d ago · · ·
    Reply 

    >>1213216

    It is harmless indeed. Though I actually kind of feel weird that Caballus is agreeing to something that isn't beneficial to him (at least in the way Meister is offering it). It's like, yeah, let your trading empire flourish! Oh wait, you don't have one! D:

    #61 · Chapter 25 · 36w, 6d ago · · ·
    Reply 

    >>1214770

    Right. Meister believes he's getting a new ally against his hidden enemies in exchange for future business partnership. But what Caballus was actually after was Meister's cooperation against said hidden enemies, and once that's done, he doesn't really care. Because Inquisitors (and thus Inquisiponies) are viewed almost universally with fear and distrust (unless they show up to get rid of something worse, and even then...), he instead shows up as a fellow Rogue Trader, to get Meister's guard down. "Caballus" might be stonewalled, but everypony wants to be "Swift Corsair's" friend.

    Intrigue is Magic!

    #62 · Chapter 25 · 28w, 2d ago · · ·
    Reply 

    Chapter 2 and loving it, I heard alot about this fic and was worried that the toning down on the grimdarkieness would ruin it as a 40k fic, I am happy to say that I was proven terribly, horribly wrong. I can only hope we meet the grey knights soon in the far future, where there is only war...

    #63 · Chapter 22 · 26w, 6d ago · · ·
    Reply 

    Your German vocabulary is rather impressive (unless you are German, then your English one is:pinkiecrazy:), and, wow, that name 'Remarque'? I know only one person that name, and that was a now long dead writer...probably coincidence, but an awesome one!

    #64 · Chapter 23 · 26w, 6d ago · · ·
    Reply 

    Waffen is an arms dealer and Juwel deals in luxury? I guess I'm one of few who gets this?:twilightsmile:

    #65 · Chapter 24 · 26w, 6d ago · · ·
    Reply 

    Those pie's sure dont go easy on the digestion. Not to say, they are 'hot'.

    You have definitely done your homework conscering the 41st century..."Lord Solar MacIntarius", conquering new lands. This is nothing short of ingeniuos.

    Lol, my first thought at the "pink ball of feathers" was some weird Pinkie Pie stage-version from "Over A Barrell", but I got your hint at Fleur de Lys quick enough.

    #66 · Chapter 25 · 26w, 6d ago · · ·
    Reply 

    I cant shake off the feeling that Velour is going to have a rather nasty backside (omg, that went somewhere horrible)...I mean, she is somehow evil. If its one thing you can trust when reading W40k lore and history its that the most beautiful-charming people are secretly praying to Slaneesh and every smile comes with a spikey tail, goat feet and some mutated naked woman's torso.:pinkiesick:

    Sidenote: This fic doesnt get enough :moustache::moustache::moustache:

    #67 · Chapter 26 · 26w, 6d ago · · ·
    Reply 

    Hm...do these ships need 'Life Support', I didnt think they were spaceships? Well, just nit picking on my part, no need to change anything.

    A new dawn of war...uhoh, I see what you did there:rainbowdetermined2: Great chapter, I see the Children know what they are doing.

    #68 · Chapter 26 · 26w, 6d ago · · ·
    Reply 

    Glory to the Empero- I mean... Celestia, ha ha...

    #69 · Chapter 26 · 26w, 6d ago · · ·
    Reply 

    Did you mention Smooze before? I don't remember you mentioning Smooze before...

    Well their doomed. Nothing can stop the Smooze.

    All hail the Smooze.






    Smooze.

    #70 · Chapter 26 · 26w, 6d ago · · ·
    Reply 

    >>1550747

    Thanks. Feel free to leave your thoughts as you catch up; feedback is always appreciated. If I might ask, where have you been hearing about it? I don't consider myself much of a self-promoter.

    >>1603789

    I took four years of German in high school, enough for college credit, so I guess I know a thing or two. Pretty rusty, but Google translate has been  helpful as well. Pferdian is based on the planet Mordian, which has a Prussian style to it, so I ran with that. As for the name Remarque, it's just a pony name that I thought would reflect his intended personality: the one-percenter who snidely remarks on his rivals.

    >>1603822

    Only one to comment on it, at least. I try to give every name at least some kind of significance. Always fun when someone gets it.

    >>1603865

    Thanks, I try. And your image of PP on-stage was probably accurate, thematically. Velour just did it with her own wings.

    >>1603933

    Well, there is no "Slannesh" in Equestria, per se, but we have met some individuals clearly aligned to various camps of "dark powers." And there are others who haven't made an appearance. Yet.

    >>1605619

    High atmospheric flight. It's the pony equivalent of orbital spacecraft.

    >>1606062

    Chapter 16. All are welcome in the putrid embrace of Grandfather Smooze.:pinkiecrazy:

    To all my fans, I apologize for talking so long on this chapter. School happens. I wouldn't say I'm "back" to my more frequent, more regular posting rate by any stretch, given my courseload, but "hiatus" is such a weird word to describe a hobby. So I won't. It comes when it comes. Another reason for the delay was that my creative time and energies were being diverted to a new pass-time my friends and I have picked up: Dark Heresy. We decided to start our first-ever RPG, and I'm the only one with Warhammer knowledge and was voted the best storyteller, that makes me the GM. So now when I'm not working on homework, I'm working on missions for us to run, and only when I'm ahead on that (and not burned out of 40k), do I jot down a bit of the ole Archives.

    Also, happy season premier everyone. It seems to me that there's going to be a lot of plot going into this season, and I see it having two effects on my crossover head-fanon: It can reinforce the themes I've been building and add more background to draw on (Sombre the Despoiler, anyone?), or it could screw everything up. I'm excited to see which.

    And just wondering, but is FiMFiction's Google doc transcriber down? I had to go and put in all my formatting manually this time. What a hassle.

    #71 · Chapter 26 · 26w, 5d ago · · ·
    Reply 

    >>1606207 I saw you as a Highly esteemed by the guy who did "Cutie marks of chaos" and decided to check you out. After a little evaluation I decided that this fic was well worth my time and dived in without hesitation. Well done sir, well done.

    #72 · Chapter 9 · 26w, 3d ago · · ·
    Reply 

    Nice that we have our first pony in powerarmour, that it is a filthy Nurgle scum is a minor detail. And a nice touch with the cutie mark :rainbowlaugh:

    I know that this is a nitpick, but should it not be hoof in "Whatever Caballus has on hand"

    #73 · Chapter 10 · 26w, 3d ago · · ·
    Reply 

    ... Were those diamond dogs something Eldar :rainbowhuh: Their love for gemweapons and shadow thing sounds like Eldar, but my fluff knowledge is not good enough to tell if they are normal or dark. A little help here :twilightblush:

    #74 · Chapter 26 · 26w, 3d ago · · ·
    Reply 

    >>1620280

    Dark Eldar, to be specific. As I've mentioned in previous comments, I had a few reasons for this. In the fluff that I've read (see: Lexicanum), DE basic infantry splinter weapons have big chunks of crystallized neurotoxin for ammo, from which smaller pieces are broken and accelerated out of the gun. So crossbows that launch gemstones seemed like a good fit. It was actually other similarities that gave me the connection first: both Diamond Dogs and the DE utilize the slave labor of other races and prefer hit and run tactics by emerging from somewhere that others cannot easily follow (the Webway or underground). I don't know if DE have holo-fields like their non-dark cousins or something equivalent, but I made up the shadow-cloak-things for the Diamond Dogs based on that kind of technology. But I'm glad it was easy enough to pick up on without having to be any more explicit than I was.

    I was actually hoping that the crystal ponies would make for good normal Eldar representatives, but they just seemed like... regular ponies, only translucent. I might still go with it, but I was really hoping they might be more "special." I've probably made farther stretches before.

    #75 · Chapter 1 · 26w, 1d ago · · ·
    Reply 

    More violence/Bolters is needed to make it more warhammery:trixieshiftleft:

    #76 · Chapter 26 · 26w, 1d ago · · ·
    Reply 

    Yay, this chapter's almost 5k! :D

    "You shall by my eyes and ears": oops

    There's a Saint Blasphemius? XD

    When Fyzzix contacts Caballus about the drive thingy, he calls him Caballus, despite the previous insistence on keeping up their disguise over their own comms. Is that an issue?

    "almost too much to breath": breathe

    Yay, Sniffles! Wait, wait, wait, has he always been an Apostle of Smooze? @_@ I don't remember hearing this before!

    Well, that was exciting! :D

    #77 · Chapter 26 · 26w, 1d ago · · ·
    Reply 

    >>1630818

    Eh, a certain amount of violence is necessary for it to be considered a 40k story, but a certain amount of wholesomeness is necessary to be considered an MLP one. I'm pretty satisfied with the balance I've struck, and plenty of comments agree. And what are these "bolters" you speak of? I don't believe they have those in Equestria.:rainbowkiss:

    >>1631707

    Ah, thanks for the errors, continuity or otherwise.

    The book titles were references or fluff. In Defense of the Future: A Logical Discourse is from the Dark Heresy RPG, and Tactica Imperialis is a cool background book, and the others I just made up. Sounded like something that might be on the cover of an evil, forbidden book that might be found in the library of an unscrupulous, law-flaunting nobleman with heretical friends.

    Apparently no one remembers that from chapter 16. It's the name of Sniffles' warband. Maybe someday he'll tell his story...

    #78 · Chapter 26 · 26w, 14h ago · · ·
    Reply 

    >>1633697

    Man, chapter 16 was a long time ago. D:

    #79 · Chapter 26 · 26w, 7h ago · · ·
    Reply 

    >>1637803

    It was early March back then...

    ...

    ...

    But I'm determined to see this through to the end. I just hope a few of you will still be here with me by then.

    #80 · Chapter 26 · 26w, 5h ago · · ·
    Reply 

    >>1640234

    Unless you do something really stupid, I shall be.

    And trust me, it would have to be something monumental to ruin my enjoyment of this story.

    #81 · Chapter 26 · 25w, 6d ago · · ·
    Reply 

    >>1640833

    Ah, so alicorn OCs everywhere, ship everyone with everyone, deus ex machinas, the power of friendship, hokey moral, abuse of fanon and ignorance of canon? I'll get right on it! :pinkiecrazy:

    #82 · Chapter 7 · 25w, 6d ago · · ·
    Reply 

    Eyes and shadows? You couldn't mean this possibly?

    #83 · Chapter 10 · 25w, 6d ago · · ·
    Reply 

    >>1620280 nah, I think they're just renegade xenos.

    #84 · Chapter 13 · 25w, 6d ago · · ·
    Reply 

    A plauge marine and a World eaters terminator, I love love love it! And for the last time the DD's are just a raging xenos species, not the dark eldar, nopony likes the dark eldar, not even slannesh likes the dark eldar. Stupid dark eldar.

    #85 · Chapter 12 · 25w, 6d ago · · ·
    Reply 

    Hmmmm, Brass bit wouldn't be your equivelant of a Juggernaut of khorne would he?

    #86 · Chapter 26 · 25w, 5d ago · · ·
    Reply 

    >>1645769

    Never seen that before, but I suppose it's sort of that feel. Just, inside a dark closet. And more like the way I wrote it in all the other ways. :twilightsmile:

    >>1646075

    I'm... sorry you feel that way...? I've no particular feelings one way or another about the DE, but they (as Diamond Dogs) made for a good plot/action/theme/tone device and helped anchor the story better in 40k lore. If it's any consolation... they didn't exactly enjoy their role either.

    >>1646079

    Equivalent? Visually, maybe. But he's definitely a Chaos Terminator, rather than a daemon. I'm a fan of the CSM Termie design with tusks, which is why I described him with them:

    So more like that, but as a pony. I suppose you could do worse than imagining him like a Juggernaut, though.

    #87 · Chapter 16 · 25w, 5d ago · · ·
    Reply 

    Still loving it, my favorite so far has to be the confectionautus part. As for the cyclonic fruitcake, all I have to say is,

    #88 · Chapter 26 · 25w, 2d ago · · ·
    Reply 

    >>1649266

    *gasp* :pinkiegasp:

    You haven't seen FMA?

    Go watch Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood immediately!

    #89 · Chapter 17 · 23w, 6d ago · · ·
    Reply 
    #90 · Chapter 18 · 23w, 6d ago · · ·
    Reply 

    >>443142 Nary does our ever-wise inquisipony know the concept of a short comment.:rainbowlaugh:

    #91 · Chapter 18 · 23w, 6d ago · · ·
    Reply 

    >>1732850

    Whenever I deign leave a comment, I try to be clear and concise. Unfortunately, I can't seem to manage both, so I usually pick clear.:twilightsmile:

    That particular example was in response to a critique Present left on this story's Equestria Daily page, right around the time I created a page on FiMFiction for it.

    #92 · Chapter 20 · 23w, 2d ago · · ·
    Reply 

    So one thing that caught my interest, the confectionauts bit. Genius might I add, but it was executed by a fluttermanders(Salamanders) strike cruiser. Are the elements of harmony the equivelants of the primarchs?

    #93 · Chapter 20 · 23w, 2d ago · · ·
    Reply 

    >>1756684

    In 40k, an exterminatus can be only be ordered by an Inquisitor, a Space Marine Chapter Master, a Lord High Admiral of the Imperial Nacy, or a Lord Commander of the Imperial Guard. I believe most battlefleets of reasonable size have the ordinance to carry one out, but the task is most often given to Space Marines.

    But yes, they are what I call "Harmonarchs." I've left my ideas regarding them in previous comments, namely:

    >>896772

    >>920489

    >>923250

    I still haven't come up with an official fanon explanation that I would feel comfortable including in the story, and I still haven't felt a real need to.

    #94 · Chapter 26 · 23w, 7h ago · · ·
    Reply 

    I see, I am already aware as to who can order an exterminatus and which ships are capable of doing so. I was just wondering where you sat on the issue of the primarchs.

    If it comes up though, Rainow dash will be sanguinus emperor help me.:rainbowdetermined2:

    #95 · Chapter 22 · 22w, 6d ago · · ·
    Reply 

    Haha, I heard his intro and instantly thought "Tech magos, it has to be a tech magos!"

    And honestly, I dont mind a little romance.:twilightsmile:

    #96 · Chapter 27 · 22w, 6d ago · · ·
    Reply 

    why does this feel like a expository scene from scooby doo? its necessary but it feels like it isnt, or should be in a larger chapter.

    #97 · Chapter 27 · 22w, 6d ago · · ·
    Reply 

    Maneblade

    :rainbowlaugh:

    A question comes to mind, do you have plans for one previously childish dragon?

    #98 · Chapter 27 · 22w, 6d ago · · ·
    Reply 

    >>1777040

    Probably because it is. :facehoof: To my shame, this was kind of an example of me not so subtly nudging the plot along. I've been working with my own understanding of a basic investigative plot format: find clue or lead, follow it, become entangled in intrigues beyond your understanding, and then work your out of them to a conclusion. The entire story is following that path, but so are the constituent parts. I think it turned out well with the Deep-Grabbers, but this time around, I have a number of events that need to occur, but they don't have an intrinsic sequence to them. I've been arranging them in my head like lettered blocks, and seeing if any one order is better than another, and I decided to go the way I'm going. Then the story needed a little push in that direction, and this is it. Certainly not my most compelling work, I'll certainly admit, but I'd rather just get through parts that are necessary quickly so I can get to the parts that are exciting and fun.

    The hardest part of writing this has been playing scenes from the later parts of this story in my imagination, over and over, but needing to climb the rest of the mountain before I can show them to you. Thank you for articulating it that way, though. It might make the same problem easier to tackle in the future. And it proves some of you are still paying attention.:raritywink: Oh what a curse, that I should have such clever readers!

    >>1778317

    Thanks, I'm pretty proud of that one. As far as Spike goes, I have very little in the way of "Where are they now?" for any of the canon characters. But by the end, Spike will probably have the most. And that's all I'll say about it.:trixieshiftleft::trixieshiftright:

    #99 · Chapter 27 · 22w, 6d ago · · ·
    Reply 

    >>1780014

    I don't want or expect spoilers, it only occurred to me because he is the only one who would still have a good chance of being alive.

    I believe that everything that needs to be said on the subject has been said.

    #100 · Chapter 23 · 22w, 5d ago · · ·
    Reply 
    0 6584 259882
    Anonymous comments currently disabled. Please register to make comments